As the eight-fastest growing municipality in Canada, Thorold is seeing an unprecedented growth.
To help guide Thorold through its economic growing pains, City Hall recently hired a new manager of economic development, Ken Scholtens.
“My primary responsibility is to be that hands on touchpoint costumer service for investors, developers, businesses that are or want to do business in the City of Thorold,” says Scholtens, in an interview with ThoroldToday. “My job is to make that process as painless as possible because working with the government is never pain free.”
Scholtens is putting together a strategic plan that will offer a pathway for Thorold to best grow its economy.
“Thorold’s economic development strategy will focus primarily on business retention and expansion,” Scholtens says. “So working with the businesses that are already doing business here to really provide the sense that the city cares about the business community.”
Scholtens' main focus right now is the Thorold Multimodal Hub.
The industrial facility in Thorold South recently announced it is expanding its foot print with the acquisition of the former Hayes Dana Plant.
“Thorold has some tremendous industrial assets that for the past two decades were underutilized,” Scholtens says. “Seeing that private sector investment is now here activating those areas is very exciting to me. Generally speaking for every job that’s in the manufacturing sector it creates 3.2 jobs in the local economy.”
Attracting more businesses to Thorold has been a hot topic of discussion in and out of council chambers.
Local residents have persistently voiced the need for a liquor store in Thorold, but Scholtens says he can’t force the LCBO to open one.
“They’re going to do their own market research to determine whether Thorold needs a LCBO,” he says. “My job is that if they are considering that is to provide whatever information they need to facilitate that investment.”
Another hot topic in Thorold is its doctor shortage.
“When every community across Ontario is looking for doctors and there is limited supply that’s outside a city’s control,” says Scholtens. “If there is a company that is looking to open then my job is to find them that space. From that perspective, when there is an identified need, how can we do that as quickly as possible, efficiently as possible, following all the rules and guidelines.”
Scholtens thinks that Thorold’s economy is doing well compared to many other communities across Southern Ontario. Still, he says there are challenges that are affecting businesses everywhere in Canada.
“There’s a lot of global market uncertainty and supply chain issues,” Scholten says. “That’s a challenge but I view that as an opportunity because we have the Thorold Multimodal Hub. If there is a company that is looking to localize supply chains not every community can say they have this site right here.”
Ultimately, Scholtens wants local businesses to keep thriving.
“The City of Thorold is really trying to position itself as being open for business,” he says. “To be able to say that you need someone at the city who is able to advocate and support business through that process. If there are businesses that they believe are facing challenges or there is uncertainty there are more than welcome to call or email me. I’m really there to be a champion and advocate at the city to work with them.”
