Welcome to our Made in Welland Spring Edition. So many amazing things are happening in Welland, we have filled you in on a few below.
While we hope you enjoy the information we share with you, we are also asking if you could please click here to confirm you would like to receive our quarterly news.
As always, please feel free to send us your comments and suggestions.
Sincerely,
Lina DeChellis
City of Welland Economic Development Office
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| | Wind Mobile_ founded by Welland native Anthony Lacavera_ shown in this 2012 file photo_ is being acquired by Shaw Communications for _1.6 billion. _Postmedia Network file photo_ |
Welland native Anthony Lacavera has a big reason to smile - the mobile phone company he founded has been bought for $1.6 billion.
Just before Christmas it was announced Wind Mobile would be purchased by Shaw Communications Inc. for that 10-digit sum. But that doesn't mean Lacavera is pocketing all that cash.
"I would have loved to have gotten all that $1.6 billion," he quips.
But he's doing just fine, he adds.
Now 41, "I've been an entrepreneur my whole life," he says.
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Brothers Jonathan, back, and David Tucker take in the view from one of the second floor apartments at 31 West Main St., on Wednesday January 13, 2016 in Welland, Ont. Allan Benner/Welland Tribune/Postmedia Network
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Their goal was to transform a 40 year old building to reflect Welland's history, and at the same time bring a modern aesthetic to the structure.
And brothers Jonathan and David Tucker wanted to create something impressive enough that it might inspire others to transform other aging buildings in the area.
Now - almost a year after the brothers began designing the exterior renovations - the about $400,000 project is complete.
And the brothers feel they have accomplished their goal.
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| | Steve Done_ senior associate_ Tillman Ruth Robinson Architects_ leads media and VIPs through a progress tour of the Walker Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre in early March. |
A mild winter has helped contribute to steady construction progress for the Walker Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre, on the Welland campus of Niagara College.
Set to be operational by May 2016, the 15,000 square-foot facility will specialize in engineering design, 3D digital scanning technology, lean manufacturing processes and additive manufacturing.
The ground floor will include specialized labs with 3D printers, scanners and other equipment along with office space for student and staff scientists and researchers. It will also include flexible labs that can be used as incubation space for industry partners.
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Convergys is doubling the workforce at its Welland call centre by adding 400 jobs.
Brooke Beiting, spokesperson for the Cincinnati-based company, said the new jobs are part of the company's expansion into "blended sales and customer service roles" at its Welland branch, that has provided inbound customer support services for the telecommunications industry since it was founded 14 years ago.
Beiting said the Welland location currently employs 340 people.
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Gurnam Virk_ owner of the new Shell station on East Main Street in Welland_ is pictured on opening day on Tuesday. Franki Ikeman_Welland Tribune_Postmedia Network
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There's a new gas station and pizza joint in town where Welland residents to fuel up.
Gurnam Virk opened a new Shell gas station Tuesday at the corners of East Main Street and Golden Boulevard.
A Pizza Pizza express located inside the store of the station will be open in the coming weeks.
The 24-year-old moved to Welland a couple of weeks ago from Mississauga and purchased the building about a year ago.
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Bertie and Clinton Insurance board president Larry Hipple announces a move to Welland for the company_ in the October 2015 photo.
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Bertie and Clinton Insurance has half a million more reasons for making Welland the company's new home.
This week, city councillors approved a $500,300 tax incentive for the company, which is building its new offices on Niagara Street where the old Tallman Transport building had been located.
Larry Hipple, chair of Bertie and Clinton's board of directors, said the incentive was not a major influence on the company's decision to build its new $7.5-million 2,019 square meter office building at 1003 Niagara St., but the incentive - paid over five years - helped sweeten the deal.
"With a bigger property and bigger building, we'll be spending more on property taxes so it helps a lot that Welland and the Region can do that to help us move to Welland," he said, in an interview Friday.
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About Us
City of Welland Economic
Development Office
60 East Main St.
Welland, Ontario
L3B 3X4
905-735-3771
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