April 2014

Welcome to our Made in Welland Winter Spring Edition. Yes, we did say Spring. This issue, we present a wealth of growth, innovation and achievements that have recently taken place right here in Welland. We expect the positive aspect of 'Made in Welland' to continue in a big way throughout 2014. Please read on to see what's new and learn more about what's 'Made in Welland'.

As always, please feel free to send us your comments and suggestions.

Sincerely,
Lina DeChellis
City of Welland Economic Development Office

LED streetlights paying off

LED streetlights are seen along Coventry Rd. in Welland. (Tribune file photo

Problems that have plagued Welland's LED streetlights have finally almost been resolved, and the new lights are already saving taxpayers far more money than anticipated.

Tanya Rings and Jeremy Carragher from SSL Energy Solutions updated city councillors Tuesday night about the progress made during the past two years installing 4,300 LED streetlights and getting them working properly.

"We know it's been a difficult couple of years," said Rings, the company's vice-president of program operations.

But, she said, the city has already saved $231,800 since the project to install the LED streetlights began in 2012, and considering the unanticipated increases in electricity rates the city stands to save far more.

The city initially hoped to save about $2.35 million in electricity costs during the next 15 years, but as a result of increasing electricity rates the city now expects to save at least $4 million in that time period. Read more:

MEDIA RELEASE: WRCC Nominated for Two National Tourism Awards

Welland, ON - The Canadian Sport Tourism Alliance (CSTA) PRESTIGE Awards annually recognize the best in the Canadian sport tourism industry and the national awards highlight the people, places and events that have great impact and success from across Canada. After a very successful season on Welland's Waterway, the Welland Recreational Canal Corporation (WRCC) was excited to learn late last week they had in fact received not just one, but two CSTA nods and are nominated finalists in two categories at the 2014 PRESTIGE Awards.

The WRCC has been nominated for International Event of the Year with the hosting of the 2013 ICF Junior and Under 23 Canoe Sprint World Championships, Canoe Niagara 2013 and for Sport Organization of the Year as their work to expand community programming, volunteerism and impacts continues to deliver positive results.

The CSTA Sport Tourism Organization of the Year Award is presented by WestJet. This award reflects the organization that best influenced sport tourism in their community and successfully attracted a multitude of visitors with innovations that impacted community. The WRCC's commitment to volunteers and youth, as well as their successful delivery of multiple events are the cornerstones of their being a finalist. Read more:

Tailgates open for Welland sports fans

Server Sasha Crawford pours a round at Tailgates Bar and Grill. The sports bar opened last week in the former Elbow Room location at Fitch Street Plaza. (MARYANNE FIRTH/Tribune Staff

Lorraine Fioravanti has been waiting decades to step up to the plate.

And as a dedicated sports fan, she refuses to strike out.

The lifelong Wellander recently opened Tailgates Bar and Grill, fulfilling her dream and checking a significant item off her bucket list in the process.

The bar opened to a standing-room-only crowd last week in the former Elbow Room location at Fitch Street Plaza.

"I've been a waitress, a bartender, but always for other people," said Fioravanti, who also owned a local travel agency for about 10 years.

"I've always wanted to open a sports bar and in the last couple of years, my husband kept saying 'why don't you just do it.'" Read More:

Niagara College's Technology Innovation Centre

Niagara College - IIC@N: Niagara Research

About Us

City of Welland Economic Development Office

60 East Main St.

Welland, Ontario

L3B 3X4

905-735-3771

www.madeinwelland.ca

In This Issue

LED Streetlights Paying Off

WRCC Nominated for Tourism Awards

Tailgates Opens for Sports Fans

Niagara College's Technology Innovation Centre

Gateway CIP Approved

Niagara College to Run Saudi Arabia Campus

Welland Biodiesel Plant Teams Up with Ontario Producers

Long-awaited Gateway CIP Approved

Welland may finally have the economic tools it needs to compete against U.S. cities for

industrial investments.

Tuesday, city council approved the new Gateway Economic Centre Community Improvement

Plan (CIP), a policy that allows municipalities to offer financial incentive programs and municipal leadership to attract new investment and the development of employment lands within the city. Read More:

Niagara College to run Saudi Arabia campus

Niagara College has won a bid to operate a hospitality and tourism campus in Saudi Arabia. (Supplied Photo)

Welland may finally have the economic tools it needs to compete against U.S. cities forNiagara College is heading east - way to the Middle East.

And it's bringing back millions of dollars to invest in the region.

The college learned last week it won a bid to operate a hospitality, tourism, culinary and business cam-pus in Taif, Saudi Arabia, beating out 20 other institutions from across the globe.

The news came after a worldwide tender was issued last fall by the Colleges of Excellence of Saudi Arabia.

Top schools were sought to train students in a variety of sectors at 26 vocational and technical training colleges built and owned by the Saudi government.
More here:

Welland biodiesel plant teams up with Ontario producers

Great Lakes Biodiesel in Welland, operating Canada's largest biodiesel refinery, has teamed up with Ontario's other two grain-based biodiesel producers to form a new advocacy group. (GREG FURMINGER/Tribune Staff)

Great Lakes Biodiesel Inc. in Welland has banded together with Ontario's other two grain-based biodiesel producers to form a new advocacy group.

Announced Monday, the establishment of the Ontario Biodiesel Association (OBA) is aimed at promoting the production and use of the renewable fuel.

"This is a good develop-ment for the industry and we hope we can make a case to the government it's an industry that needs support," Paul Grenier, executive director and spokesman for the group, said by phone Tuesday. Read more: