This week, Essex County will begin its 2025 budget deliberations that, if approved could see an increase of 6.36 per cent.
That equates to $11.5 million and a dollar figure that has already been trimmed from what originally would have seen taxpayers hit with an 11.16 percent increase.
A look at this year’s budget indicates that 27 percent of the total expenditure is what is tagged as external commitments. Two of those, Invest Windsor-Essex and Tourism Windsor-Essex-Pelee Island appeared before council last week.
Joe Goncalves is the Interim CEO of Invest Windsor-Essex and although he had a lot of good news about the region’s economic prosperity and future, it was met by questions from members of council.
Essex Mayor Sherry Bondy said that while the organization does a good job, it seems to be more focused on the City of Windsor and perhaps more county representation on its board and a better account reflected in meeting minutes might be helpful.
“Economic development and investment in Essex County are very different,” said Bondy.
Tecumseh Mayor Gary McNamara wanted to know how businesses in the county could get better and expand.
“What are we doing to support our companies that are heavily dependent on trade with the U.S.?” asked McNamara.
Goncalves, who said that Invest Windsor-Essex is in the midst of hiring a new CEO, and he is not applying for the position, said one way for the region’s companies to stay competitive is to adapt to utilizing Artificial Intelligence.
County Deputy Warden Joe Bachetti asked what the county municipalities should be focusing on when it comes to attracting new business which Goncalves replied, “have shovel-ready land available.”
Invest Windsor-Essex continues to put a lot of emphasis on several areas including retention-expansion of existing businesses and having a small business-entrepreneurship centre which since January 2023, has consulted with nearly 1,000 entrepreneurs.
“Just recently the Conference Board of Canada said that the Windsor-Essex region will lead in the entire country in GDP growth per capita,” said Goncalves.
At the conclusion of the presentation from Invest Windsor-Essex, Warden Hilda MacDonald said it would be beneficial if the organization came to county council more often.
“It will pay off in the long wrong and it also makes for an educated and informed council,” she said.
Invest Windsor-Essex meets with county council
By Fred Groves