Belleville presented an optimistic look at how the city is progressing, during a meeting of the Quinte Economic Development Commission Thursday.
Manager of Economic and Strategic Initiatives Karen Poste noted “several new business openings” and added progress on the industrial land at the agricultural fair site is moving forward.
Poste said the Ontario Immigrant Nominee program is very active here.
“We have almost twice the numbers applicants and nominations than other communities do. So its had strong uptake in this community. Employers are certainly taking advantage of it but I would say more than anything, graduates from Loyalist college.”
Poste added, “The international student graduates have been taking up all those positions. So, a great way to keep all those skilled workers here. The program finishes at the end of this year. It is a pilot project.”
“We recently met with the owners of Black Bear Ridge to review their impressive plans for their redevelopment and new development on that eastern parcel on Harmony Road. We met with them a second time just to see how we can support their marketing in their attraction efforts.”
Poste also announced that the Job Fair, held in cooperation with Quinte West, has been postponed to November 17, after the deadline for Ontario’s vaccine mandate.
