Business_retention
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Feature Article - July 12, 2007Business retention and expansion survey yields mixed results
byJeff Green
The Economic Development Department of the County of Frontenac has completed a comprehensive survey of businesses throughout the county.
The business retention and expansion report was presented to a county council meeting in June, and to a joint meeting of the four municipal councils that make up Frontenac County last week.
In general the survey revealed that while many businesses are less than satisfied about some aspects of doing business in the county, there is little doom and gloom about the future.
Seventy percent of the 168 businesses surveyed rate their community as an excellent or good place to do business; 43% will be expanding their establishments in the future, and only 4 of the surveyed businesses were planning to relocate outside of their own municipality in the future.
Agricultural operations (incl. forestry, fishing and hunting), made up the majority of the businesses surveyed in South Frontenac (38%), whereas Accommodation and Food Services (the category that encompasses most tourism operators), made up 50% of the respondents in North Frontenac. In Central Frontenac, Accommodation and Food Services (21%) and Arts, Entertainment and Recreation (21%) were the most popular categories.
While it has been widely reported that farming has been on the decline in recent years, the survey showed some optimism in the Frontenac County farming community. Forty per cent of those surveyed said their financial situation has improved over the past 3 years, while 22% said it has deteriorated, and 53% expect their financial situation to improve over the next three years while only 8% expect it to deteriorate.
Among the priorities for improvements to local agriculture, access to a local abattoir was most often cited (by 84% of respondents) followed closely by processing/marketing facilities (81%) and drainage (81%).
Perhaps in recognition of the burgeoning residential pressures on some prime farmland in the county which happens to be located within a short drive of the City of Kingston, conflicts with non-farm residents was noted as a priority by 67% of the agricultural operators who answered the survey.
Tourism operations are spread throughout the county, and 45 of the 168 businesses surveyed identified themselves as tourism-related. The bulk of these are located in Central and North Frontenac, but all regions were represented.
While a small majority of the businesses surveyed are open year round (56%), most agreed their business is mostly or entirely based on summer traffic (86%). About half of the businesses said that the seasonal nature of their operations is a barrier to expansion, but on the positive side, 44% of those surveyed said they have plans to expand their operations.
Dianna Bratina, the manager for Economic Development for Frontenac County, directed the survey process. She said that the results “confirmed many things that I have learned about the business climate in the county, and will form the basis for future activities.”
The survey is a tool that was developed by the province, and Bratina said that the results that were released to county councilors last month are based on the parameters set out by the province.
“In the coming months we will be looking at the information from a more specific, county-based perspective,” she said.
A leadership team made up of municipal appointees from the four Frontenac municipalities, and other interested parties, such as Terry Shea from the Land O’Lakes Tourist Association, have begun to work on an action plan based on the results of the survey.
County council will consider the survey results at their August 1st meeting, and Dianna Bratina will be making presentations and seeking feedback from municipal councils and at public meetings in the early fall.
She anticipates formulating an action plan for implementation in 2008.
Concrete_Arden
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Feature Article - July 12, 2007Concrete plans for former Arden Station property.
byJeff Green
It’s been two years since the Arden Station restaurant and gas bar burnt down, leaving burnt out shells where the buildings had been.
In the past couple of months, the site has mercifully been cleaned up, eliminating a blot on the landscape along Highway 7. The source of that cleanup surfaced at a Central Frontenac Council meeting this week, at a public meeting concerning a proposal to change the zoning at the site to allow a dry mix concrete operation to be established.
1000 Islands Concrete from Brockville proposes to set up a satellite operation to serve the Land o’ Lakes region.
The proposed zoning amendment would limit the industrial use of the site to the 1000 Islands Concrete operation, and was recommended by township planning consultant Glenn Tunnock, subject to specific restrictions that are to be contained in a site plan control document, which will be completed in the near future.
1000 Islands Concrete does not propose to mix concrete on the site. They plan to load aggregate in one side of their trucks, concrete on the other, and water in a third container. The concrete is mixed at the location where it is to be poured.
Representatives from the Kennebec Lake Association made presentations to the public meeting on the proposed zoning amendment.
“At its nearest point, Kennebec Lake is 200 metres from the site, and there are two creeks to the east and west of the property that drain directly into Kennebec Lake,” said Gray Merriam. He expressed several concerns, including one about storm water run off from the aggregate that will be stored on the site leaching harmful minerals into the creeks and into Kennebec Lake.
The owners of 1000 Island Concrete, a father and son, were present. They said that to make concrete only clean stone can be used, and it must be larger than other aggregate, such as the material used at the side of Highway 7 or on gravel roads. They suggested Hwy. 7 has more impact on the lake than anything their operation ever will.
David Daski, who owns property on the north side of Hwy. 7, near the proposed development, said the proposal runs contrary to the tourism-related country inn he is developing on his property. He is particularly concerned about dust and noise that would emanate from the operation.
“If this is permitted the township would be taking a step backwards away from promoting the tourism potential of the Land o’ Lakes region,” he said.
Glenn Tunncok said that the site plan control can stipulate a screening of the site to mitigate noise and dust, and the proponents said they plan to use brand new dust socks to trap the bulk of the dust when their trucks are being loaded.
None of the councillors indicated they intend to oppose the project, and later in the meeting a bylaw was passed which will enable the proposal to move forward if an environmental assessment is obtained and a site plan can be developed.
“There will have to be a certificate of approval obtained from the Ministry of the Environment before the business can be opened,” Tunnock said.
This did not sit well with Bill Castle, the owner of 100 Islands Concrete. “A certificate of Approval will take six months to a year to obtain. I’d like to get started before freeze up this year,” he said.
An opinion will be sought from the Ministry of the Environment as to whether the business can open with a certificate of approval pending. (see letter “Arden Cement”)
Transportation
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Feature Article - August 9, 2007Transportation the only source of debate at quiet county meeting
by Jeff Green
Frontenac County Council held their only meeting of the summer last week, and aside from receiving a few reports, they had little to discuss.
Approval was given in short order to award a tender for a $135,000 roof repair to the Fairmount Home.
However, the terms of reference for a transportation study did give the councillors an opportunity to disagree.
A Request for Proposal for the $10,000 business plan, using funds that were held back from a one-time only grant to the Rural Routes Transportation Service, included wording that Central Frontenac Mayor Janet Gutowski feared would limit the study.
The business plan will be limited to a transportation service “in the county to help those truly in need of getting to essential services or appointments for employment or health-related reasons,” according to the staff recommendation.
Gutowski said she favoured an amendment that would add accessing food, child care and youth services.
“We need to decide how deeply we want to get into this,” said South Frontenac Mayor Gary Davison, “I’m concerned about the potential cost to taxpayers.”
Janet Gutowski replied that limiting the service too much would make it less viable, “because of economies of scale and things like that.”
Deputy Warden Jim Vanden Hoek, who was chairing the meeting in the absence of Warden Ron Maguire from North Frontenac, asked if the request for proposal could be delayed until September when all four councillors would be in attendance.
“That would make it difficult to have the business plan completed this year,” said County CAO Elizabeth Fulton.
She then suggested that Mayor Gutowski’s concerns could be accommodated within the framework that staff had already developed.
“Accessing food could be considered an essential service, and child care can be seen as related to employment,” she said.
“If the minutes point to that out as direction to the staff, would that be enough for you?” VandenHoek asked Janet Gutowski.
She agreed.
The reluctance to enter into transportation services that has been expressed by Mayor Davison on this occasion, and Mayor Van denHoek earlier this year, contrasts with the attitude taken by Lanark County Council. In Lanark County a transportation program has been receiving municipal funding for several years, and a study has been commissioned to look into expanding the program into a full blown regional public transit system, that could be up and running as early as this fall.
Beauty_inside
Three months ago Terry-Ann Hare moved her esthetics and healing modalities business from Kindred Spirits in Sydenham to her home just a few minutes north on Alton road.
“I can put my kids on the bus in the morning, get dinner started when I have a break, I can do all those things so the day goes that much smoother,” she said over the phone earlier this week - in between seeing a client and running to the road to pick up her children after school.
And her clients don't seem to mind at all. Since moving her business, Terry has been able to keep all of her clients, and add new ones.
It's all part of a progression for Terry as she continues to juggle family and career responsibilities.
She originally studied marketing in school, and after graduating she worked for Revlon Canada as a sales representative. She went for a massage during her first pregnancy and struck up a friendship with Janet Howard of Kindred Spirits. This led Terry to consider starting her own business. She studied reflexology and Reiki and decided she needed to do esthetics as well to make her business viable, so she took a course in Kingston.
At the start, esthetics accounted for the bulk of her business, but that has changed and now it is only about 40%.
The ever expanding healing modalities offered at Beauty Inside; which include Reiki, for which Terry will soon be attaining her Masters from Earth and Sky in Kingston, as well as reflexology, and Indian Head massage, have become more and more popular.
“So many people are craving massage techniques, so many people are nowadays are stressed, that they are looking for something I can offer,” Terry said.
Another innovation that has come about since Terry has moved her business to her home, is the Wednesday afternoon Women's Circle she has organized, which is a meditation group.
With Christmas coming up, Beauty Inside is offering packages to help with stress, and provide a gift -giving opportunity.
One package includes a pedicure, facial, reflexology and a hour massage, all for $100 (a $50 savings).
Massage
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Feature Article - November 1, 2007 Massage Therapy Clinic Opens in Veronaby Brenda CrawfordPhoto: Councillor Bill Robinson, Vicky Kehoe, and Steven Johnston cutting the ribbon. Vicky’s husband and moral support Jessie Pollok smiles for the camera.
Steven Johnston welcomes Vicky Kehoe to Unit 2 in the Korner Stone Castle Bed and Breakfast, Hwy. 38, Verona. The Grand Opening took place on Saturday. The rainy weather could not dampen the excitement for Vicky. Her clients were very receptive to the new location. Her treatment room is large, fresh and inviting. She opens her doors on Monday, October 29. She can be reached at 613-483-4494 or 613-374-2237.
Vicky is looking forward to growing her business in Verona and branching out to offer other unique services to her patients. She is constantly going to workshops and seminars to keep current with new treatments for chronic pain, sports injuries, pregnancy health, and much more. On a lighter note, Steve and Vicky are also hoping to offer Spa Weekends at the Inn next year. They can sign me up right now! It is so great to have these services in our own community.
Kindred_spirits
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Feature Article - March 20, 2008 Kindred Spirits: more than Sydenham's “Best kept secret”
Cindy Mills, Janet Howard, Billie Jo McKay.
It all started 10 years ago when Janet Howard turned a corner.
She was a single mother who had been working in Toronto as a dental assistant for 10 years, and she decided to make a change. So, she took a course in massage therapy, and moved to a cottage her uncle owned “back on Little Long Lake” and began doing massage in the basement of the E-Clips Hair Salon in Sydenham. She eventually moved her business to George Street. Five years ago she bought a house on Rutledge Road and opened the Kindred Spirits day spa on the first floor of the house.
She continues to offer massage therapy and has expanded her repertoire to include a variety of acupuncture services, including traditional acupuncture, auricular acupuncture, and most recently, facial acupuncture, which she says “can be like a facelift without botox or surgery.”
Janet has invited other practitioners into her home-based business over the past few years, and this past September she was joined by aesthetician Billie Jo McKay and Cyndy Mills who is a foot spa detox practitioner.
Harrowsmith-based Billie Jo, who has nine years experience as an aesthetician, has taken a couple of years off to have children, and for her the opportunity to work close to home was one of the reasons for joining Kindred Spirits. She offers anti-aging facials, manicures, pedicures, tinting, as well as service packages and ongoing specials. She also has a line of jewelry that is available at Kindred Spirits.
Cyndy Mills describes the foot massage technique she uses as “the newest method of detoxification available in Eastern Ontario, using the Platinum Energy System”.
It starts with a pressure point massage, moves to a soothing, cleansing foot spa soak, and ends with an aromatherapy cleanse and oil massage. Benefits from the treatments include pain, stress, and acidity reduction, improved circulation and sleep patterns, and an overall enhancement of physical and emotional well-being. Cyndy also offers magnetic therapy which she says can be of help for people dealing with several different maladies.
Additionally, Janet, Cyndy and Billie Jo are offering workshops and women’s circles that include meditation, couples’ massage and willow chair building courses, just to name a few. They will also be hosting ladies group spa days, wedding parties and mini retreats at the Sydenham location.
The new direction in Sydenham is not the only change in Janet Howard's future. She has purchased 50 acres on the Raymo Road in the Godfrey-Parham region, which she will be developing into a spiritual retreat centre.
The retreat centre will be developed over time, but Howard says the land is the ideal location for many possible uses, which she will be exploring over the next couple of years. But her new direction hasn’t stopped her from moving forward in Sydenham, and she has been involved with a group of Sydenham-based businesses that have been meeting regularly to look at improving the business and marketing environment in the hamlet.
Kindred Spirits can be reached at 376-3519
Lookout_hh
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Feature Article -April 10, 2008 Service Still Key for Lookout Home Hardwareby Jeff Green
Rick Kellar was born and raised in Plevna, but when he was a young man he went away to college and ended up getting a job with the Ministry of Natural Resources in Forest Management. After five years he decided “Government wasn’t the place for me.”
He asked for a leave from the ministry and when he couldn’t get one, he left his job and “spent a couple of years traveling around the world with a back pack.”
Eventually he decided it was time to establish some roots so he headed back to Plevna with no real idea about his future plans.
He put his forestry training into practice and started a logging business in Plevna.
In 1986, a business opportunity presented itself. Stan Mika owned Mika hardware in Sharbot Lake and had satellite stores in Arden and Plevna. Rick Kellar took over the Plevna store, which was located in a two-room schoolhouse on a hill overlooking the hamlet.
He immediately did two things with the store.
“It had been called Lookout Hardware before Stan Mika owned it, so we re-named it, and we immediately turned it into a year-round business. In the first winter we opened three days a week, but after one year it became a six day a week business,” Rick Kellar recalls.
By the time he opened Lookout Hardware, Rick Kellar had married his wife Gina, who was from Plevna originally, but had been working in Toronto and visiting home on weekends and holidays.
To find work for Gina back home, the Kellars opened another business, the “Crooked Nook” lunch bar. After a couple of years running the logging business, the lumber store, and the restaurant, something had to give, and the company sold the Crooked Nook, whichich now exists as the North of 7 Restaurant, Freshmart and gas bar.
In 1988, Lookout moved to its current location on
the junction of Hwy 506 and Mountain Road.
“There was a two-storey home on the property, which we renovated and turned into a store. Early in 1992 we built a 1700 square foot addition, and in 2002 we did a 3200 square foot addition.”
Also in 2002, Lookout switched from the TimbrMart buying group to Home Hardware, and a store manager was hired, freeing up some of Rick Kellar’s time.
“We wanted the Home Hardware line, and it has worked out. It provides the same price on hardware that people receive at the larger Home Hardware stores, which is a big plus for us, because it gives the customer comfort over the pricing.”
Kellar says that each year he has been in business he has seen a steady growth.
“We don’t see huge peaks and valleys, just continual progression,” he said. He attributes the businesses success to the increasing demand for building supplies in the surrounding region as people seek to upgrade old family cottages and build new homes, and to the staff complement that has been built up over the years.
Aside from selling lumber, which is delivered within a 30 mile radius free of charge, and hardware, Lookout also carries cottage and home packages.
But it is service that has been the real backbone of the business.
“The first step is to recognize that someone has come into the store, and we need to appreciate that opportunity,” Rick Kellar says, and that is something the staff at Lookout always keep in mind.
“Most of our staff, with one exception, have been trained on the job. Most arrived with little experience, and one of them has been here for 20 years; most of the rest have been here five years or more. I think that it’s a good thing that they’ve been trained on the job.”
A business like Lookout Hardware can only survive with the support of both the permanent residents and the seasonal residents.
“Our business has been built on customer service, a good location, great staff, and a little bit of luck,” Kellar said.
Pela_cfdc
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Feature Article - May 29, 2008 PELA CFDC Opens Branch in NorthbrookPrince Edward/Lennox & Addington Community Futures Development Corporation (PELA CFDC) is committed to serving both Prince Edward County and Lennox and Addington Counties by providing free business advice and support in our Picton, Napanee, and now Northbrook locations.
Chris Winney of Royal LePage ProAlliance Realty has generously supplied office space at her facility at 12309 Hwy 41, Northbrook, for PELA CFDC to use as a satellite office on the last Friday of every month. John Jackson, the Chair of PELA CFDC, a Federally funded not-for-profit economic development corporation, states that this gives business in the north of our service area the opportunity to meet face to face with our professional staff.
Gillian Chapman of PELA CFDC will be available, by appointment, to provide confidential business advice and support, plus information on:
Business Loans up to $150,000 with fixed interest rates starting at 2% above prime.
Business planning tools.
Business Grants.
Interest Free business Loans of $5,000 & $50,000.
Self Employment Benefit Programme to support business start up for EI/ODSP recipients.
E-Learning: Computer based training available free to the business community.
Canadian Youth Business foundation: To support youth entrepreneur start-ups.
PELA CFDC was welcomed to Northbrook by a number of business and government representatives who support the initiative of opening up the availability of Federally funded services to the area.
For more information, please contact Gillian Chapman, Business Development Manager at 613-354-0162.
Desert_lake_gardens
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Feature Article - May 29, 2008 Local business “Desert Lake Gardens” wins provincial awardBy Julie Druker
Pat
and Rick Dawson in a small hoop house with spring seedlings
Premier McGuinty’s Agri-Food Innovation Excellence Awards were established “to recognize innovators who contribute to the success of Ontario’s agri-food sector.” This sector is “the second largest goods manufacturing industry in the province (second only to the auto industry) and contributes $30 billion to the economy every year.”
Area winners gathered in Belleville recently to receive recognition and their $5000 award. Rick and Pat Dawson of “Desert Lake Gardens” near Sydenham were one of five businesses in southeastern Ontario who won. They were awarded for their “innovative vertically integrated operation” where they grow, market, and deliver via website, van and retail shop a large variety of high quality organic foods grown by themselves and other local organic growers. They also provide their customers with other healthy products which they source out but do not produce themselves.
While they’re very appreciative of the award, it’s spring time at Desert Lake Gardens, with not much extra time available to bask in the glory of the honour. Recently, Pat took a break from the office to show me around and explain the bottom-line thinking of the business. “We’re trying to help people become more aware of what they eat and where it comes from.”
A hammer clangs behind us as Rick assembles the frame of a large hoop green house. It will be covered in plastic to protect the plants from deer and soil splash, the latter of which causes most plant diseases. Inside a small hoop house, hundreds of seedlings are sprouting; large home-made wooden flats of peppers, eggplant, tomatoes, spring turnip, basil, kale, lettuce, green onions all together look like a living quilt of spring green.
Pat shows me the shitake mushroom plot where smaller oak trees have been felled, cut and inoculated with the fungus called shitake spawn. It’s very labour intensive work. “We’ve been growing the mushrooms for 10 years. They are a unique cash crop and we know how to do it well.” She’s hoping to have an abundant supply this year, enough to take to market in Kingston.
We move on to the rows of young lettuce, mustard and arugula in an adjacent field. Pat reveals them where they grow under a protective white shroud. “They’ll be ready to cut this week”. An eight foot wild stock fence surrounds the field to keep the deer out. Pat pulls up a spring turnip with a golf ball-sized white head. “These may go on the website this week.” She takes a bite and adds, “We’ll wait one more week.” She yanks out another and passes it to me.
“We have 300 active customers and fill 100 orders per week.” And still the business continues to branch out. “We’re working on home meal replacements where customers can either order a full recipe kit to prepare a specific meal at home themselves or buy it already fully prepared.” The kits and meals change regularly. “This week is a veggie tajine and we usually have one or two prepared soups available.”
When I finally depart Rick has been joined by Bradley, one of their helpers, and both continue hammering away at the hoops. Pat heads back inside to continue on with her office work.
Preparing dinner that night I cut the greens off my little spring turnip and add them to my pot of beans. I bite into that little white orb and…mmmmmm! I’ve never tasted such a delicious little thing. Raw but tender and so flavorful. I never a big fan of the mashed turnips of Christmas time…this is an entirely different thing: so tender and sweet and turnipy. It truly made my taste buds sing. Visit www.dlgardens.com for more info and to order your own spring turnips and other products.
Congratulations Rick and Pat on a business very well grown.
Afar_08-22
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Feature Article - June 5, 2008 AFAR gets a little closer: radio station ready for fundraising driveBy Jeff Green
Gillian Chapman, PELA CFDC, hands Larry Pealow (l) and Bob Taylor (r) application forms to fund AFAR radio.
Less than a year ago, the Addington Frontenac Area Radio station (AFAR) was an idea. While that idea has not yet become a reality, AFAR has progressed to the point where it has a location, the prospect of a building, a board of directors, charitable status, and a vision of how to move forward.
The next thing to do is to find $25,000.
Robert Taylor of Northbrook, who has come on as chair of the AFAR steering committee, is enthusiastic about the station’s prospects.
“We recently travelled down to Amherst Island where they have a station up and running, and they were impressed by how far we have come in terms of getting ready. We were saved a lot of trouble when Addington Highlands Council allowed us to be a subcommittee of the Economic Development Committee (AHEAD). That meant we did not have to spend time becoming incorporated,” Taylor said. “We also received a world of information in Amherst Island.”
The township has also donated a small piece of land behind the firehall, next to the skateboard park in Northbrook for the station.
Gilles Pacquette, who has a business located near Northbrook, will be providing, at his own cost, an old railway car that he owns as a studio and office.
The proposed station will be able to send a signal that travels in a 16-mile radius, covering most of Addington Highlands, much of North Frontenac, and Kennebec District in Central Frontenac. It will give approximately 4.000 households daily access to music and information programming that is geared to their own needs.
“Often when people die we don’t know about it until after the funeral has passed,” said Bob Taylor in outlining one of the benefits a radio station would bring through daily communication of matters of public concern.
The coming together of physical requirements for the station, such as a location and building, follows a winter-long effort to attract people with specific skills for the board.
Hali Foster had helped the board develop its business plan, and other board members have contributed general and specific skills. Along with Foster and Board Chair Bob Taylor, the board includes Vice Chair Andy Anderson, Secretary Carol Pealow, Treasurer Glenn Mcfadden, Frank Matacheskie, Alex Chisholm, Howard Gibbs and Stella Postma.
The first major piece in the funding puzzle may have been put in place last week, when AFAR submitted a grant application to the Prince Edward Lennox and Addington Community Future Development Corporation (PELA CFDC).
The application to the CFDC business planning fund was submitted to Gillian Chapman, the business manager for PELA CFDC, on the occasion of the first of her monthly visits to a new satellite office of PELA CFDC in Northbrook. The CFDC office is located at the real estate office of Chris Winney.
Applications for other grants, including a Trillium grant, are pending. A membership drive will be undertaken this summer.
As well, thanks to the efforts of Andy Anderson, a fundraising golf tournament at Maple Estates Golf Club (corner of Hwys. 506 and 41) is planned for August 16.
At this point the AFAR Board is planning to make application to the CRTC next winter for a broadcast license and hopes be on the air within 12 months.
