Tag: Business

Cobourg launches Start Here program

John Draper

With the slogan “Cobourg has it all but welcomes more”, the Downtown Coalition launched its marketing campaign to sell the merits of opening a business Downtown.  Funded partly by the Province, it was initiated as part of the Downtown Vitalization Program and called the Business Attraction Marketing Plan (see link below).  Cooperating in the plan are the DBIA, the Town’s Economic Development Department and the Chamber of Commerce. The program includes a new website (www.startherecobourg.ca), many videos and a facelift for several stores using window wraps – starting with the empty “Sarby’s” opposite Victoria Hall.  There will also be a social media campaign. The announcement of the launch started today in the Old Bailey courtroom and moved to King street where… Read complete articleCobourg launches Start Here program

Solar Panels at Venture 13 Explained

John Draper

At the Venture 13 grand opening on May 17, 2018, Dereck Paul, President & CEO of Lakefront Utility Services Inc (LUSI) announced that Solar panels would be installed on the roof of the Venture 13 building and would save approx. a third of its hydro costs.  At  last week’s council meeting he presented additional information.  A key thing is that it’s not just LUSI involved but a consortium of LUSI, Veridian and Solera.  And LUSI does not distribute Hydro – that’s a sister company: Lakefront Utilities Inc.  The mandate of LUSI includes providing broadband to business as they will do for Venture 13, to manage the water supply for 4 municipalities and to expand their business (see the full presentation… Read complete articleSolar Panels at Venture 13 Explained

Cannabis Facility Chooses Construction Contractor

John Draper

As previously reported, private company FV Pharma has bought the old Kraft Factory and plans to use it to supply the Cannabis Market in Canada.  Initially the market is for medical purposes but legislation to allow recreational marijuana is working its way through the Senate and should be approved in the summer.  The main financing for FV Pharma is provided by public company Cannabis Wheaton Income Corp and on May 15 they announced an update on their “Joint Venture” with FV Pharma.  A builder has now been chosen and a schedule for construction announced.  They also make a point of thanking the “support received and active involvement of the local municipality of Cobourg”.  Help to ensure this building is used… Read complete articleCannabis Facility Chooses Construction Contractor

William Academy Opening this Fall

John Draper

When CDCI West closed, the building was put up for sale and it was bought by Jeff Weng who operates William Academy in Scarborough and will open a second Campus in this building in September.  He plans to have 50 students to start – 30 international and 20 local.  To encourage local students, he is offering 20 scholarships which will cover students as long as they stay at the school.  To start it will be primarily grades 11 & 12 but will accept from grades 9 to 12. The idea is that both international and local students will benefit from mixing with each other.  Jeff already operates the successful Scarborough campus but both he and the students like Cobourg so… Read complete articleWilliam Academy Opening this Fall

Venture 13 Grand Opening

John Draper

The new centre for innovation and technology entrepreneurs had its grand opening on Thursday.  All councillors were there with Mayor Brocanier acting as MC.  MP Kim Rudd, MPP Lou Rinaldi, Police Chief Kai Liu were there as well as project prime movers CFDC executive director Wendy Curtis and CAO Stephen Peacock.  The idea for the project was first aired at Council in May 2017 but funding from the Federal Government and Fleming College helped get the project going with tenders let in December 2017.  The second floor will be occupied by the Cobourg Police Business Services unit that is planning to expand and will fully fund their portion.  The speeches were kicked off by a video from Hon Navdeep Bains,… Read complete articleVenture 13 Grand Opening

Town and Police Board to sign MOU

John Draper

The Business Services Unit (BSU) of the Cobourg Police generates significant income that offsets costs to the Town and taxpayers but the Police board is concerned that this comes with a risk.  If Governments, Provincial or Federal, change the rules, the income could be lost.  Therefore the Town and the Police have prepared a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that spells out how this will be handled.  The intent is to keep the BSU separate from day to day Police operation and budget so that any drop in income will not impact taxpayers.  So far, profit from the BSU has been used for Capital items – most recently the cost of setting up the second floor of Venture 13 to house… Read complete articleTown and Police Board to sign MOU

Two Major Projects up for Site Plan Approval

John Draper

In March of 2017, Sobeys showed the public their plans for expansion of the Foodland Supermarket. They want a new enlarged store and the required public meeting and re-zoning approval happened last year.   The Site Plan is now with the Planning Department. Changes from the public meeting have been incorporated and Council will be asked to approve a Development agreement at their next Committee of the Whole Meeting on Monday March 26.  At the same meeting, the developer of the Cedar Shore Estates property on King Street West (near Monk’s Cove) is asking for a subdivision agreement so the building of 14 homes can proceed.  This was first discussed in 2015 when the property was up for sale at an… Read complete articleTwo Major Projects up for Site Plan Approval

Marijuana Facility confirms Financing

John Draper

Two days ago, FV Pharma, the Cannabis company who bought the Kraft plant, announced that they had closed their financing agreement with Cannabis Wheaton Income Corp.  They had previously announced a letter of intent to do this (see link below).  They are saying that the deal has “the potential to build out the largest indoor cannabis cultivation facility in the world” and that they will produce 400 million grams of Cannabis a year of which half will be “paid” to Cannabis Wheaton. Chuck Rifici, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Cannabis Wheaton commented that “it has the potential to create hundreds of jobs for the City of Cobourg.” What they don’t say is that there are a whole lot of competitors… Read complete articleMarijuana Facility confirms Financing