City council has approved, in principle, a five-year economic development strategy and implementation plan developed by a consultant.
Catherine Oosterbaan, president of Oosterbaan Strategy, presented the plan alongside Ryan Lay, the city's manager of economic development, and Michael Ladouceur, the city's director of business development, tourism and modernization at Monday's council meeting.
The ambitious plan lays out four primary goals divided into 13 points covering attracting investment and developing the workforce, business start-up and growth, quality of life and tourism sector growth. The four goals are:
- Increase jobs and Orillia's average income through targeted investment attraction and workforce development;
- More businesses start and grow in Orillia;
- Orillia is an ideal location for living and visiting to attract and retain a stable workforce; and
- The tourism sector grows by maximizing opportunities to increase visitor spending year-round
Oosterbaan has delivered similar projects to the County of Simcoe and Oro-Medonte Township, working with government and private economic development officers over the past 15 years.
The report was developed, she noted, after receiving 549 survey results and having discussions with 130 key stakeholders.
Oosterbaan told council growth is coming to the area, and this is a blueprint meant to allow the city to maximize the potential.
She did point out the cost of housing and affordability of living here is a challenge, with income and education levels notably lower than the rest of Simcoe County. According to Census data presented as part of the report:
- Orillia’s median household income is notably lower than the rest of the province at $71,000 per household versus $91,000 in Ontario;
- Income of households in 2020 was $84,600 in Orillia versus Ontario, which was $116,000;
- Orillia’s education rates are generally lower when compared with the rest of Ontario. 19.5% of the population has no certificate, diploma, or degree, 31% has their high school diploma or equivalency certificate, 24.1% have a college, CEGEP, or other non-university certificate or diploma 6% have an apprenticeship or trade certificate or diploma, and 17.5% have a bachelor’s degree or higher, including 2.8% with a master’s degree, and 0.4% with an earned doctorate
Some of the goals outlined in the document include having Orillia become a place where students and newcomers feel at home, where transit meets the needs of employers, employees and students as well as ensuring the downtown is safe and easy to access for residents and visitors to shop.
The report also noted Orillia is the envy of many outside of this area and has a relatively stable workforce.
Ward 3 Councillor Jay Fallis inquired if there was any talk of having aerospace industry expand here.
Oosterbaan said it was considered in regard to expanding at the Lake Simcoe Regional Airport with the County, with Oosterbaan noting the sector is open for exploration, along with expanding food processing by taking advantage of the agricultural resources surrounding Orillia.
Mayor Don McIssac inquired of staff what goals and success markers would be established to assess the success of the program. He was told each action has a strategy and objectives to measure the progress.
Besides suggesting areas of opportunity, the report introduced a decision-making matrix for the economic development office to assess the viability of proposals from business and the public.
Council adopted the plan in principle after the presentation.
According to the 135-page staff report, "there is no immediate budgetary impact to the five-year strategy, as staff will utilize its existing operating budget."
