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Ministry of Economic Development and Trade

Our goal at the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade is clear: to grow our economy for the benefit of all Ontarians.

To accomplish that we encourage and support businesses of all sizes, and help them innovate and compete in today’s fast changing global economy.

We also work hard to attract new growth and investment to the province and to promote Ontario goods and services abroad.

When Ontario-based businesses succeed, we all win.

www.ontario.ca/economy

Marketing

Your Guide to Preparing a Marketing Plan

Planning for success. Your guide to preparing a marketing plan.

The Wall Street Journal is a terrific resource for any entrepreneur. Their site is packed with interesting and informative videos and articles, click here to check out their Small Business Marketing page, you might find something that interests you.

Entrepreneurship

Guide to Preparing a Business Plan

A good business plan is a kind of “reality check.” It helps you to identify the challenges as well as the opportunities your business will face. It forces you to clearly identify your target markets and your competition. It pushes you to think through your operational and financial requirements and how you will handle sales and promotion. But, perhaps most importantly, it’s a practical tool that prospective investors can use to judge the potential of your business idea.

The Innovation Quiz

This chart poses some key management, market, technical, and financial questions. These are the four main areas associated with most innovation projects. Complete the quiz and consider your results. There is no scoring involved with the assignment, but the outcome may help you identify areas of strength and weakness and provide some “food for thought.”

Youth Entrepreneurship Program

CBAR and IPLIN have come together to bring you the "Youth Entrepreneurship Program". Offering such services and programs as:

Market Research
Cross Border Issues
Business Plan Preparation
Online Business Transactions
Assistance with patenting
Incorporation Guidance
Legal Tools and Information

Visit their website and check out the the many workshops they offer.

Your Guide to Small Business

Your guide to small business is a great document to help walk one through the entire process of starting a business. Provided by the Government of Ontario and available here this is a must read for anyone starting their own business.

Even in bad economy, people love cake

From the Windsor Star, an inspiring success story where endurance prevailed:

"After five months, she

Sweet Success Found In Ice Cream

Taken from the Wall Street Journal

A successful start-up requires more than just a good idea. Kelsey Hubbard tracks how Ben Van Leeuwan took a stroke of inspiration and despite the recession, turned it into a successful ice cream company.

Mergers and Acquisitions Seminar

The seminar discussed the important aspects of M&A. Learn from skilled professionals about the strategic, financial and legal implications involved in M&A.

The slide show for each section can be downloaded below

For more information please see the event's page here.

HUB'09 Slide Show

A slide show of the images captured at the HUB'09 Conference.
You can download the entire slide show Here

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Guy Kawasaki - The Art of Innovation

Take a look at what Guy Kawasaki has to say about "The Art of Innovation"

Finance

The Currency Outlook: Issue 2

OPTIC's Currency Outlook Newsletter is a great tool for local businesses that are affected by the US-CAN dollar. The Newsletter helps shed light on the reasons for the dollars volatility as well as provides a general outlook on where the dollar is going in the marketplace.

Why You Will Fail When Raising Money

From Forbes.com a how-to style article about pitching to investors.

"Steve Rosenbaum was ecstatic. Three years ago, the former Hollywood TV producer nabbed a chance to pitch his start-up, Magnify.net, a user-generated video-sharing Web site, to a group of interested investors.

The group shook hands and loosened up by sharing stories of mutual acquaintances. They chatted about baseball, New York and their kids..."

The Currency Outlook: Issue 1

OPTIC's Currency Outlook Newsletter is a great tool for local businesses that are affected by the US-CAN dollar. The Newsletter helps shed light on the reasons for the dollars volatility as well as provides a general outlook on where the dollar is going in the marketplace.

Click here to download Issue 1

What Looks Good Seminar

Mark Meldrum, Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship at The Odette School of Business, and founder of the Windsor Trading Club will be hosting a charity event in which he will be sharing his insight into where the market will be going in 2009, including his best picks for the year.
Click here for more information about this Past Event.

Human Resources

Matrix of Programs July 2009

The Ministry of Economic Development and Trade (MEDT) has released their July 2008 version of their Employer Support Programs Report. This wonderful resource displays various programs and government agencies along with a description of their services, contact information, and whether or not the provide the following services:

Business Retention and Expansion Consulting
Financial Assistance
Export
Research / Commercialization
Networking
Skilled Workforce
Other

You can download the file here

Logistics

Website highlights area's [manufacturing] capabilities

From the Windsor Star an article discussing an exciting new website to benefit our area.

"A website detailing the capabilities and available capacity in tool, die and mould shops across the Windsor region is expected to undergo a soft launch in December and be fully operational and accessible by trade missions across the globe by February.

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HUB '09 - David Miller & Michael Belzer

David Miller, Vice President, Global Policy and Economic Sustainability, Con-way Inc.
Michael Belzer, Associate Professor, Department of Economics of the College of Liberal Arts & Science, Wayne State University

HUB'09 - Session 3

Speakers in this Pannel:

Richard Wallace, Senior Project Manager, Center for Automotive Research
Chris Jones, Manager, Infrastructure & Director, Expressway Canadian Pacific
Pete Mateja, Co-Director, Office of Automotive Research, University of Windsor
Robert Schmidt, Director Air Cargo Infrastructure and Logistics, Lufthansa Consulting

HUB'09 - Session 2

Speakers in this Pannel:

Roger Creery, Executive Director, Laredo Development Foundation
Helena Borges, Director General, Surface Transportation Policy, Transport Canada
Gregory J. McCann, Assistant Director, Trade Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Detroit, MI
Terry Nusyna, President, TN Security Group

HUB'09 - Session 1

Speakers in this Pannel:

Cliff Mackay, President and CEO, Railway Association of Canada
David Cree, President & Chief Executive Officer, Windsor Port Authority
Federica Nazzani, General Manager, Windsor International Airport (YQG)
Bruce Hodgson, Director of Market Development,
The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation

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Professor, Hofstra University

President of the Foundation on Economic Trends
Bestselling Author-"White Paper"

Human Resources
Management

Mark Meldrum speaks about Team Building at Wayne State University

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Resource Library

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Marketing

Entrepreneurship

Finance

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Logistics

Speakers in this Pannel:

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Professor, Hofstra University

President of the Foundation on Economic Trends Bestselling Author-"White Paper"

Human ResourcesManagement

Mark Meldrum speaks about Team Building at Wayne State University

Navigation

Follow O.P.T.I.C. - V.I. on:

President of the Foundation on Economic Trends
Bestselling Author-"White Paper"

Human Resources
Management