Yo, Economic Development Corp. Wassup?

NEWS RELEASE

SAULT STE. MARIE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

To offer citizens and partners a further look into its daily activity, the Sault Ste. Marie Economic Development Corporation (SSMEDC) is publishing weekly summary reports on its website.

The information contains short accounts of SSMEDC projects and general endeavours.

It’s designed to show what the organization does on a day-to-day basis and add another level of accountability for the taxpayer and other investments received by the Corporation. 

“Much of our activity takes place out of the public eye, so from the public’s perspective, it’s not always clear what we do and what kind of impact we have on the community,” said Tom Dodds, Chief Executive Officer of the SSMEDC. “We can’t discuss all of our initiatives, since there are confidentiality requirements with respect to many of our clients, but these weekly summary reports are meant to show citizens some of our daily activities and what our staff does to support economic growth in Sault Ste. Marie.”

The weekly reports are available at http://www.sault-canada.com/en/aboutus/Weekly_Activity.asp.

They date back to February 2014.

The reports were originally sent solely to City Council, which is a main partner of the SSMEDC.

However, given the positive feedback and value, the Corporation subsequently archived the information to make it publically available online.

Weekly summary reports are one of many communications methods used by the SSMEDC.

Over the past several years, the Corporation has implemented or enhanced a number of projects designed to keep citizens and partners informed of its activity while also promoting its programs and services.

These include a Twitter page, @SaultEDC, which recently garnered its 1,000th follower; bimonthly newsletters; Shaw TV and other video news segments; Annual Reports; routine press releases and website stories; Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Reports to City Council; public information sessions; and stories found in various external print and online news sources.

The SSMEDC is a non-profit organization that receives operating funds from the City of Sault Ste. Marie, senior levels of government and the private sector.

Between 2010 and 2014, the Corporation helped 167 businesses startup or expand, which created or retained more than 1,600 jobs. During that same five-year period, activity from the SSMEDC’s Tourism Sault Ste. Marie division – specifically in attracting events and selling vacation packages – generated 173,280 visitor days and $24.4 million in direct visitor spending.

More information on the SSMEDC is available online at www.sault-canada.com.

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