One agency focuses on investment marketing for all of Niagara. The others deal with retaining businesses and expansion within their own municipalities.
Does that justify having several economic development offices in a single region?
Yes it does, says Patrick Gedge, chief executive officer for Niaga ra Economic Development Corp.
"It's a question of efficiency and effectiveness. Would you want 12 municipalities each individually marketing themselves to the world?" says Gedge.
"If we're doing it all together, then there's going to be a lot more effectiveness in terms of us going out and bringing those leads to all of Niagara. And over time, all of us recognize that even if a business ends up in one community, it benefits all of Niagara."
Critics such as Niagara Falls regional councillor Norm Puttick, however, don't believe NEDC is doing a good enough job for the $2 million it receives annually from regional government.
Cities such as Niagara Falls, St. Catharines and Fort Erie already have business and tourism development offices, he says. So why does the region need one, too?
It's the issue that has frustrated Puttick most during his first three years on council, as he tries to rid the area of what he calls redundancy and duplication.
His persistence led to a consultant's review of the effectiveness of the NEDC, commissioned by the Region.
"Why do we have a corporation that is continually given a contract and they're not producing?" says Puttick.
"Why don't we put it out to tender, if we're going to spend $2 million a year? My guess is we'd get a lot more done for less money. More here.
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