The global pandemic hasn’t slowed things down locally when it comes to industrial development, but it has changed the way things are done.
Quinte News spoke to Quinte Economic Development Commission Chief Executive Officer Chris King about how this region has faired when it comes to marketing the region to new industry.
King says they focus on manufacturing, food processing and logistics, and technology, and those companies are doing well.
He says it hasn’t slowed things down at all.
“Many of them have great opportunities where there’s lots of work and there’s opportunities they are chasing. You know they are looking to hire and to grow. There’s a lot of great jobs out there in the manufacturing sector.”
King says the QEDC is also busy fielding inquiries from businesses outside of the area.
They are looking at available buildings and the industrial parks in Belleville, Quinte West and Brighton.
He says even with the pandemic there has been a good level of activity and good opportunities.
“The good news is, not every sector is doing well of course, but the manufacturing, food processing sector, a lot of the logistics companies are doing quite well in terms of the level of business that they have and that has resulted in both the opportunity for expansion of local companies which is good but also for new companies looking to come to the region.”
King says how things are done is different because of the pandemic. For their U.S. clients, the QEDC needs to provide more information up front, and there are more virtual meetings and presentations as the clients are unable to come up and look at the sites or buildings.
He says there are a number of projects that are working through the process and could lead to future announcements.
