Ontario East Description
“Ontario East” Active and Associate members must represent and maintain a presence in the area defined geographically to include the following: City of Kawartha Lakes, County of Haliburton, County of Peterborough, County of Northumberland, County of Hastings, Municipality of Prince Edward County, County of Lennox & Addington, County of Frontenac, County of Renfrew, County of Lanark, United Counties of Leeds & Grenville, United Counties of Prescott & Russell and all separated Cities and Towns therein. Non-Resident Associate Memberships are also available.
Please see the fee schedule below, for all categories.
Membership Benefits
The Ontario East Economic Development Commission (Ontario East) was established over 30 years ago as a non-profit regional marketing agency with a mandate to develop, implement and administer programs to attract new investment and jobs to its diverse group of communities. Ontario East provides investment attraction programming and offers professional development and networking opportunities and delivers specialized programs to enhance the region’s profile in a competitive global market.
Professional Development & Networking
Ontario East hosts the annual Ontario East Municipal Conference (OEMC), bringing elected officials, economic developers, municipal staff, and business together in the largest conference of its type outside Toronto or Ottawa. Members receive registration discounts and opportunities to present and share their programs and successes at the conference.
Monthly Quarterly meetings, held on a rotating basis throughout the region, offer the opportunity for members to gather, share and learn about the latest advancements in economic development in unique settings and for members to showcase their communities to the region. In addition, Ontario East hosts special events on a variety of economic development themes on a regular basis or to address emerging issues or opportunities. Members benefit from reduced or no fees for these offerings.
Ontario East has established strong ties to provincial, federal, and international influencers including all ministries and agencies involved in economic development programming and funding development. Our Board of Directors includes representatives from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation & Trade (MEDJCT) and the Federal Economic Development Agency Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) providing the latest insights and information to share with members.
Communications & Information
Ontario East provides regular communications to its broad network through newsletters and social media platforms and promotes its members' relevant information and news through these mediums at no additional cost.
Ontario East is a resource for information or referrals on all economic development topics whether through our professional staff or our members and other networks, we can help you find answers and connect you to the experts.
Government agencies rely on Ontario East to promote new programs ensuring our members are among the first to know about new opportunities to support their communities.
Ontario East commissions important reports and studies on a regular basis to support its collaborative efforts and shares this information with members at no charge.
Ontario East enjoys reciprocal memberships and partnerships with the Economic Development Council of Ontario (EDCO), Economic Developers Association of Canada (EDAC), International Economic Development Association (IEDC) and others involved in advancing the economic development profession and economic growth.
Regional Marketing Committee - Investment Attraction
For an additional fee Ontario East offers the opportunity for members to participate in programming that actively identifies and secures investment opportunities in key employment sectors for the region.
Regional Marketing Committee (RMC) members invest in Ontario East to develop regional programming that delivers or augments its member's economic development efforts in domestic or foreign direct investment. As a regional non-profit agency Ontario East is able to access funds to leverage member investment delivering value up to tenfold original input. Any investments identified and secured by the members of the RMC benefits the entire Ontario East geographic base.
Programming includes investment promotion, lead generation, participation in targeted trade shows, investment missions and economic development forums provincially, nationally, and internationally. As of 2021, virtually all counties and municipalities in Ontario East have representation from a level of government on the RMC.
Membership Categories
Active Membership
An Active Member shall be an individual employed in the field of economic development by a municipality [or municipalities] or an economic development association funded by a municipality [or municipalities] or a member of a municipally sponsored economic development committee. Each Active Member shall be entitled to one (1) vote at all meetings of Members and to hold office.
Associate Membership
An Associate Member shall be an individual employed by an agency, body or corporation involved in economic development through the private sector, educational system or government sponsored program, or who supports economic development by other means but is not directly employed by an agency, body or corporation involved in economic development (which may include as an example, suppliers of goods or services in support of economic development). Each Associate Member is entitled to one (1) vote at all meetings of Members and to hold office.
Government Membership
A Government Member shall be a representative appointed by a provincial or federal ministry, agency or body or corporation. A Government Member shall be entitled to receive notice of all meetings of Members but shall not be entitled to vote at meetings of Members.
Non-Resident Associate Membership
A Non-Resident Member (a business or individual without an Ontario East location) shall be an individual employed in economic development by municipality, agency, body or corporation involved in economic development through the private sector, educational system or government sponsored program outside of the Ontario East region (which may include as an example, suppliers of goods or services in support of economic development). A Non-Resident Member shall be entitled to receive notice of all meetings of Members but shall not be entitled to vote at meetings of Members.
Honourary Life Member
To be considered for Honorary Life Membership, an individual shall: a) have reached the age of sixty (60), or have a minimum of twenty (20) years’ service to economic development; and b) be retired or devote no more than thirty (30%) per cent of his or her working time towards paid services in the field of economic development. An Honourary Life Member shall be recommended and approved by the Executive Committee. Honourary Members shall be entitled to receive notice of all meetings of Members but shall not be entitled to vote at meetings of Members.
| Membership Categories | Annual Fee (April 1-March 31) |
HST | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active (by population) | |||
| Up to 10,000 | 275.00 | 35.75 | 310.75 |
| 10,001 to 39,999 | 300.00 | 39.00 | 339.00 |
| Over 40,000 | 330.00 | 42.90 | 372.90 |
| Associate | 330.00 | 42.90 | 372.90 |
| Government | 330.00 | 42.90 | 372.90 |
| Non-Resident Associate | 550.00 | 71.50 | 621.50 |
| Additional member(s) per organization | 165.00 | 21.45 | 186.45 |
| Honourary Life Member | No fee | n/a | n/a |
| Regional Marketing Committee | 11,995.00* | 1,559.35 | 13,554.35 |
*Includes 1 Active General Membership (additional member fees apply)
Please note that by submitting for membership, you are giving the Ontario East Economic Development Commission consent to send email messages to you under the Canadian Anti-SPAM Law (CASL).
Membership fee invoices will be issued once membership is approved. Thank you,