Securing new business investment and bringing visitors to Niagara are critical to for the growth and prosperity of the Regional Municipality of Niagara.
The Niagara Economic Development Corporation (NEDC) was created to advance these priorities on behalf of the Niagara Region. NEDC’s mission is to promote, advocate, and facilitate Niagara’s business and tourism growth and competitiveness.
In 1971, Regional Council recognized the importance of implementing a collective, regional approach to promoting all of Niagara’s tourism assets. The result was the creation of the Regional Niagara Tourist Council. The new tourism promotion agency worked with its industry partners and stakeholder groups to develop successful co-operative promotional programs and destination marketing campaigns to help attract tourists to Niagara.
In 1981, Niagara was grappling with an economic recession of significant proportions. As area municipalities struggled individually to attract new commerce, a review of development strategies noted the lack of, and opportunity for, a region-wide co-ordinated approach to business development and the Niagara Regional Development Corporation was established. The new business development agency introduced a region-wide approach to marketing Niagara’s strengths and business investment opportunities.
In 1996, Regional Council amalgamated the Regional Niagara Tourist Council and the Niagara Regional Development Corporation into a single corporate entity, the Niagara Economic and Tourism Corporation (NETC). This new organization combined the energy, resources, and enthusiasm of two successful organizations into one entity charged with promoting Niagara's tourism and business development opportunities.
The new agency embraced emerging technologies such as Internet marketing via its industry leading tourismniagara.com and niagaracanada.com web site products. NETC established itself a leading information provider to the business, investment, and destination marketing sectors. The development of the Niagara Economic Information System, NiagaraCommercialProperties.com website; and comprehensive Tourism Niagara Marketing Program provided value-added, real-time demographic, investment and travel information about Niagara Canada to site selectors, investors and potential visitors. The Corporation provided important linkages between business and stakeholder groups across the Niagara Region and offered a one-stop option for site selectors and the business community seeking new growth opportunities in Niagara.
In 2005, NETC tightened its focus on business development and retention initiatives. The newly branded Niagara Economic Development Corporation signaled the agency’s commitment to business development and investment activities.
With new economic opportunities emerging throughout the world, NEDC and Regional Council developed and adopted a blueprint to help Niagara capitalize on new growth opportunities resulting from the changing economy. This plan, Niagara’s Economic Growth Strategy, is providing a framework for NEDC’s investment marketing and business development initiatives as the Corporation markets Niagara Canada to the World.
Initiatives such as Niagara Days in Toronto and Ottawa employ a 'one voice' approach for Niagara’s municipal leaders to help identify priority needs to senior levels of government, and are helping to bring new federal and provincial investments to key priority areas across Niagara.
The award-winning 'Niagara Original' branding campaign is helping Niagara position itself as an innovative, vibrant and progressive region to potential investors and travelers.
Niagara is open for business, and NEDC is letting the world know what an ideal location our region is for business investment and travel.
Niagara Success Stories
Niagara Original
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