Saugeen Connects brought 30 potential investors on a tour of five local municipalities.
Members of the Newcomer Centre of Peel started the Investor Tour with a meet and greet in Mount Forest Oct. 30 and then travelled to Hanover where mayors from West Grey, Hanover and Brockton welcomed the group.
The group toured the area and stopped in Durham, Walkerton and Palmerston to speak with business owners and check out investment opportunities.
Saugeen Economic Development General Manager Rose Austin says it is important to attract new investment into rural communities, and they are hopeful the new partnership will translate into new entrepreneurs moving to the region.
Discussions are currently underway for the next tour to be an “employment” tour in an effort to attract new workers into our communities.
"I had a wonderful experience during the trip," said one investor. "It was amazing to visit the countryside, meet with the town personnel and the mayors and learn about exciting opportunities available at these locations. We, as newcomers, get stuck in the place of our initial arrival, and often only get to visit places of tourist attractions. I believe that such trips should be conducted more often to help newcomers experience the diverse culture habitation and available opportunities out of big cities to explore and make it our home."
Saugeen Connect is a partnership with the Saugeen Economic Development Corporation, Town of Minto, Town of Hanover, Municipality of West Grey, Municipality of Brockton and the Township of Wellington North. The mission is to collaborate and positively impact area economic growth; support youth retention and development; support growth and retention of businesses; and to integrate efforts to leverage immigrant attraction to the area as residents, workers, entrepreneurs, business owners, operators and investors.
For more information about the Investor Tour or any other Saugeen Connects program please contact the Economic Development Office at one of the partnering Municipalities or go to www.SaugeenConnects.com.
