Enterprise Toronto (Toronto Small Business Enterprise

Centre/MEDT/Public and Private Sector Partnership) -

Markland-Centennial (Ward 4); North York Centre (Ward 10);

Scarborough Highland Creek (Ward 16); Downtown (Ward 24)

The Economic Development and Parks Committee recommends:

(1)the adoption of the report (August 23, 1999) from the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism; and

(2)the appointment of Councillor Mario Giansante, Kingsway Humber, for a one year term on the Enterprise Toronto Advisory Committee.

The Economic Development and Parks Committee submits the following report (August 23, 1999) from the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism:

Purpose:

To present an Executive Summary of a proposed Strategic Business Plan for Enterprise Toronto as well as the formation of the Enterprise Toronto Advisory Committee.

Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

There are no further financial implications to the existing approved 1999 budget of the Economic Development Division to carry out the Enterprise Toronto initiative.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

(1)the Strategic Business Plan, Executive Summary, attached as Schedule "A", be adopted;

(2)a member of the Economic Development and Parks Committee be appointed for a one year term on the Enterprise Toronto Advisory Committee; and

(3)the appropriate City officials be directed to take the necessary action to give effect thereto.

Council Reference/Background/History:

The establishment of Enterprise Toronto was approved by City Council on February 2, 1999, and Economic Development staff were requested to report back with a business plan as well as the composition of the public/private sector partnership.

Enterprise Toronto is an innovative public, private, and not-for-profit sector alliance/model adopted from the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade's (MEDT) Enterprise Centre provincial network. Several examples of this model currently exist in cities such as Ottawa, Mississauga, Sudbury, Hamilton and London.

Enterprise Toronto is being established to provide one-stop sourcing of services and programs tailored to meet the unique needs of the City's entrepreneurs and small businesses. Through building strategic alliances, Enterprise Toronto will be able to capitalize on the wealth of knowledge, expertise, financial resources and formal and informal business networks within the community. The strategic alliances will also play an integral role in adding value to core small business programs and services offered by Enterprise Toronto.

In March 1999, a Strategic Business Plan (Schedule "A") was developed through a series of six workshops with the input of over twenty representatives from various public, private, and not-for-profit sector interests. The Enterprise Toronto Strategic Plan is a shared vision and action plan to deliver entrepreneurship and small business programs and services over the next three years.

In addition to the development of the Strategic Business Plan, Economic Development staff have been conducting a number of discussions with potential public, private and not-for-profit stakeholders to be part of the Enterprise Toronto alliance model. The composition of the public/private sector partnership includes the alliance members as outlined in Appendix "I". The ultimate strength and key success of this new innovative program lies in the continuous development of the program, services and various alliance partners.

An Advisory Committee comprised of key stakeholders groups and alliance partners will be established to provide policy and strategic direction. The Economic Development Division will manage and operate Enterprise Toronto.

Advisory members will act as "champions" to promote Enterprise Toronto and the needs of small business. Representation as outlined on page 13 of the Strategic Business Plan is as follows:

-Potential (City Council)1

-Business Owner1

-Government Officials (Federal/Provincial/City)3-4

-Private Sector and/or Not-for-Profit2-3

-Education1

(Note: Membership to be expanded as required)

The official opening of Enterprise Toronto (four offices) is scheduled for September 27, 1999. Advisory Committees and Sub-Committees will be established and hold regular meetings shortly thereafter.

Conclusions:

Enterprise Toronto is a new entrepreneurship and small business program built on existing best practices and will continuously evolve to meet the unique needs of the City's customers (for example, entrepreneurs and small business owners).

Enterprise Toronto can act in a powerful and instrumental leadership role by facilitating public, private and not-for-profit sector alliances that will focus their combined resources for the benefit of small business. As a result, Enterprise Toronto will develop and deliver programs and services to start, operate and grow successful business ventures to their full potential through early and initial growth stages of development.

Contacts Names:

Mr. John Tracogna, 395-7407, Mr. Bill Steiss, 392-7183, Ms. Brenda Librecz, 397-4700.

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Appendix I

Enterprise Toronto

Alliance Partners

The success of Enterprise Toronto will depend in part to the strength of Enterprise Toronto's private, public, and not-for-profit sector alliance partners:

Alliance Partners:

Associated Senior Executives

Association of Chinese Canadian Entrepreneurs

Bell Canada

Business Development Bank of Canada

Calmeadow Metrofund

Canada-Ontario Business Service Centre

Canadian Association for Home Based Business*

Canadian Italian Business and Professional Association

Canadian Technology Network

Centennial College - Centre of Entrepreneurship

City of Toronto - Economic Development Office

Community Business Resource Centre*

Etobicoke Chamber of Commerce*

Global Group of Companies

Human Resources Development Canada

IBM (to be finalized)

Industry Canada

Korean Businessmen's Association*

Metroland Printing, Publishing & Distributing Ltd.

Ministry of Economic Development and Trade

North York Chamber of Commerce

Ontario Business Connects

Royal Bank

Scarborough Chamber of Commerce*

Schulich School of Business, York University

Service Canada

Teknion

Toronto Access to Capital*

Toronto Board of Trade*

Toronto Business Development Centre*

Toronto Fashion Incubator*

Toronto Kitchen Incubator

Toronto Licensing

Toronto Public Library*

TradeLink

Women Entrepreneurs of Canada*

YMCA*

York Business Opportunities Centre

Young Entrepreneurs Association

* to be confirmed

Revised August 20, 1999

(A copy of Schedule "A" referred to in the foregoing report was forwarded to each Member of Council with the Agenda of the Economic Development and Parks Committee meeting of September 13, 1999, and a copy thereof is also on file in the office of the City Clerk.)