Hyper Local: Economic Development

Hyper Local Host: Mason Ainsworth
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Mission: To inspire economic development professionals, encourage entrepreneurship, and foster community growth by sharing stories, lessons learned, impactful projects, case studies of successful initiatives, and innovative ideas for thriving communities.

  1. hace 3 días

    Interprovincial Export Circles-Bright Ideas-EDCO Award Winners: The Deep Dive. S3. E4.

    In this episode of the Hyper Local EDCO Awards Series: A Deep Dive, host Mason Ainsworth explores Interprovincial Export Circles, the winning project from the 2025 EDCO Bright Ideas Competition. With Sushmitha Thirumalaivasan (Downtown Development Officer, City of Kitchener), Lauren (Cutler) McEachern (Senior Economic Development Officer, City of Vaughan), and Jessica Rhynas (Rural Economic Development Specialist, Invest Durham). They explain their practical, peer-led model designed to help Ontario SMEs better understand and overcome the challenges of doing business across provincial borders. The conversation dives into the problem the team set out to solve, the research and stakeholder engagement that shaped the final model, and how Interprovincial Export Circles uses a cohort-based approach to bring businesses together to learn from one another, navigate interprovincial trade barriers, and identify new opportunities across Canada. We also go behind the scenes of the EDCO Bright Ideas Competition itself: from forming a team and selecting a topic to conducting the research, developing the report, and presenting the final idea. The episode explores what worked, the challenges encountered along the way, lessons for future Bright Ideas participants, and what winning the 2025 competition has meant for the team and the project. Most importantly, the team has developed a ready-to-run toolkit and framework that economic development offices, chambers of commerce, and regional organizations can adapt to launch their own Interprovincial Export Circles. We discuss what it would take to pilot the model, where it could go next, and the opportunity to scale the approach across Ontario and beyond. Whether you work in economic development, business retention and expansion, trade, entrepreneurship, or small business support, this episode offers practical ideas for helping local companies look beyond provincial borders and a great example of how research through EDCO Bright Ideas can turn into something communities can actually use. This series was made in partnership with the Economic Developers Council of Ontario (EDCO). Thank you to the incredible staff and the Board of Directors for making this series possible. Thank you to our Series Sponsor: A special thank you to Peacock Tariff Consulting for sponsoring the Hyper Local EDCO Awards Series. With deep expertise in tariff strategy, customs compliance, and international trade, Peacock Tariff Consulting helps businesses navigate complex global trade challenges with clarity and confidence. We’re grateful for their support of conversations that strengthen Ontario’s economic development community. Learn more at peacocktariffconsulting.com. Thank you to our Podcast Partner, Michelle Samson of Storied Places Media. Storied Places Media specializes in producing audio and video podcasts for economic development organizations. It's long-form content that busy people will actually consume. They can support your vision or take care of the whole process: hosting, interviewing, editing, and distribution on all major streaming platforms. They also advise on strategy and promotion to help it reach as much of your audience as possible. Learn more at storiedplaces.ca #EDCO #EconomicDevelopment #EcDev #Ontario #HyperLocalPod

    Interprovincial Export Circles-Bright Ideas-EDCO Award Winners: The Deep Dive. S3. E4.

  2. hace 5 días

    Canvas & Culture: A Night That Brought Strathroy Together-EDCO Award Winners: The Deep Dive. S3. E3.

    In this episode of the Hyper Local EDCO Awards Series: A Deep Dive, host Mason Ainsworth sits down with Kait Topham (Events Coordinator for the Municipality of Strathroy-Caradoc) and Lauren Huston (The Wright Family Performing Arts & Entertainment Centre Foundation) to talk about their Canvas & Culture Night Market, which won them the Visitor Attraction & Tourism Product Development - Rural award. This rural visitor attraction initiative brought thousands of people into downtown Strathroy for a night that mixed local business, food, art, music, and community. Kait shares how the event was built with the Downtown Strathroy BIA, The Wright Place, and a wide range of community partners. It speaks to why inclusion, participation, and a strong sense of belonging were just as important as the numbers. From sold-out restaurants and packed vendor spaces to drum circles, live mural painting, and cultural performances, this conversation looks at how a small-town night market can become both an economic driver and a celebration of the people who make the community. This series was made in partnership with the Economic Developers Council of Ontario (EDCO). Thank you to the incredible staff and the Board of Directors for making this series possible. Thank you to our Series Sponsor: A special thank you to Peacock Tariff Consulting for sponsoring the Hyper Local EDCO Awards Series. With deep expertise in tariff strategy, customs compliance, and international trade, Peacock Tariff Consulting helps businesses navigate complex global trade challenges with clarity and confidence. We’re grateful for their support of conversations that strengthen Ontario’s economic development community. Learn more at https://lnkd.in/gQes432e. Thank you to our Podcast Partner, Michelle Samson, MAES, Ec.D. of Storied Places Media. Storied Places Media specializes in producing audio and video podcasts for economic development organizations. It's long-form content that busy people will actually consume. They can support your vision or take care of the whole process: hosting, interviewing, editing, and distribution on all major streaming platforms. They also advise on strategy and promotion to help it reach as much of your audience as possible. Learn more at storiedplaces.ca #EDCO #EconomicDevelopment #EcDev #Ontario #HyperLocalPod

    Canvas & Culture: A Night That Brought Strathroy Together-EDCO Award Winners: The Deep Dive. S3. E3.

  3. 27 ago

    Work in Quinte: Jobs, Talent & Community Power-EDCO Award Winners: The Deep Dive. S3. E2.

    In this episode of the Hyper Local EDCO Awards Series: A Deep Dive, host Mason Ainsworth is joined by Garrett Harvey (Bay of Quinte Regional Marketing Board), Luisa Sorrentino (City of Quinte West), and Victoria Watts (City of Belleville) to talk about the Work in Quinte Career Fair and WorkinQuinte.ca local jobs website that won them the EDCO Award for Workforce Development & Talent Attraction (Rural, under 100,000 population). This collaborative initiative brings together municipalities and the regional marketing board to connect local employers with job seekers and make it easier to find and keep good jobs in the Bay of Quinte region. The conversation covers how the Career Fair and the redesigned local jobs website work together, the power of multi-community partnerships, what it takes to bring employers and employees together for the long term, and how other communities can adapt similar approaches. Whether you work in economic development, workforce attraction, or community marketing, this episode offers practical insights from a winning rural talent strategy. This series was made in partnership with the Economic Developers Council of Ontario (EDCO). Thank you to the incredible staff and the Board of Directors for making this series possible. Thank you to our Series Sponsor: A special thank you to Peacock Tariff Consulting for sponsoring the Hyper Local EDCO Awards Series. With deep expertise in tariff strategy, customs compliance, and international trade, Peacock Tariff Consulting helps businesses navigate complex global trade challenges with clarity and confidence. We’re grateful for their support of conversations that strengthen Ontario’s economic development community. Learn more at peacocktariffconsulting.com. Thank you to our Podcast Partner, Michelle Samson of Storied Places Media. Storied Places Media specializes in producing audio and video podcasts for economic development organizations. It's long-form content that busy people will actually consume. They can support your vision or take care of the whole process: hosting, interviewing, editing, and distribution on all major streaming platforms. They also advise on strategy and promotion to help it reach as much of your audience as possible. Learn more at storiedplaces.ca #EDCO #EconomicDevelopment #EcDev #Ontario #HyperLocalPod

    Work in Quinte: Jobs, Talent & Community Power-EDCO Award Winners: The Deep Dive. S3. E2.

  4. 25 ago

    George Borovilos: Leadership in Economic Development. EDCO Award Winners: The Deep Dive. S3. E1.

    In the first episode of our Economic Developers Council of Ontario (EDCO) Awards Series: The Deep Dive, host Mason Ainsworth sits down with George Borovilos, recipient of the prestigious Joseph A. Montgomery Economic Development Achievement Award. With a distinguished career spanning municipal, county, and provincial roles, including senior leadership at the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs, the City of Kitchener, Northumberland County, and most recently as Manager of Economic Development for the Township of Centre Wellington. George has spent decades shaping stronger, more resilient communities across Ontario. In this conversation, George reflects on what true leadership in economic development looks like, the importance of putting people and collaboration at the centre of the work, the lessons learned across different levels of government, and what the next generation of economic developers can take forward. Whether you’re an economic development professional, a community leader, or simply passionate about how Ontario’s towns and cities grow, this episode offers thoughtful insights from one of the province’s most respected voices in the field. This series was made in partnership with the Economic Developers Council of Ontario (EDCO). Thank you to the incredible staff and the Board of Directors for making this series possible. Thank you to our Series Sponsor: A special thank you to Peacock Tariff Consulting for sponsoring the Hyper Local EDCO Awards Series. With deep expertise in tariff strategy, customs compliance, and international trade, Peacock Tariff Consulting helps businesses navigate complex global trade challenges with clarity and confidence. We’re grateful for their support of conversations that strengthen Ontario’s economic development community. Learn more at peacocktariffconsulting.com. Thank you to our Podcast Partner, Michelle Samson of Storied Places Media. Storied Places Media specializes in producing audio and video podcasts for economic development organizations. It's long-form content that busy people will actually consume. They can support your vision or take care of the whole process: hosting, interviewing, editing, and distribution on all major streaming platforms. They also advise on strategy and promotion to help it reach as much of your audience as possible. Learn more at storiedplaces.ca #EDCO #EconomicDevelopment #EcDev #Ontario #HyperLocalPod

    George Borovilos: Leadership in Economic Development. EDCO Award Winners: The Deep Dive. S3. E1.

  5. 12 may

    Reclaiming Narratives Through Food: Why Culinary Tourism, Shared Meals & Hyper-Local Stories Are Essential for Thriving Neighborhoods-S2 E7-Howard Tam

    Howard Tam is an Urban Planner, a proud foodie, and the founder of Eat More Scarborough food tours. Through immersive culinary experiences, Howard is championing culinary tourism while shining a light on the incredible diversity and stories within one of Toronto’s most vibrant neighbourhoods. In this tasty episode of Hyper Local, we chomp into: The power of culinary tourism, how it supports local restaurants, and why we urgently need to do more.How shared meals and food tours help combat loneliness by bringing people together to socialize, connect, and build genuine community.Celebrating Scarborough’s incredible culinary diversity and the immigrant entrepreneurs behind it, and their incredible stories.Reclaiming and amplifying hyper-local narratives through food and storytelling.Using culture + food as tools for economic and social impact — turning “suburbs” into must-visit destinations.Collaborations with plazaPOPS, Destination Scarborough, and BIAs like the Young BIA.And much more! Howard’s message is clear: Great cities aren’t just built, they’re tasted, shared, and told through the people who live in them. When we eat together, we fight isolation and strengthen the social fabric of our communities. This episode is a must-listen for anyone passionate about food, community development, economic development, placemaking, food entrepreneurship, or using culinary tourism to create more connected, thriving neighbourhoods. Now some work for YOU! What’s one hyper-local restaurant, spot, or shared food experience in your community that deserves way more attention? Or share a time when a meal brought people together and reduced that sense of loneliness. Drop it in the comments, let’s celebrate the power of food to connect everyone. #HyperLocalPodcast #EatMoreScarborough #CulinaryTourism #Scarborough #Toronto #FoodTours #CommunityStories #Placemaking #EconomicDevelopment #CombatLoneliness #Urbanism #CityBuilding #Ontario #SupportLocalRestaurants #HyperLocalPod #EcDev

    Reclaiming Narratives Through Food: Why Culinary Tourism, Shared Meals & Hyper-Local Stories Are Essential for Thriving Neighborhoods-S2 E7-Howard Tam

  6. 4 may

    To what end? Paul Kalbfleisch, on the importance of Play, The Joy Experiments, and the Future of Cities-S2 E6.

    Paul Kalbfleisch is disrupting traditional city-building strategies with JOY! From his time as the VP of Brand Marketing and Creativity for Research in Motion (RIM) to creating his own consulting firm (PAUL Consulting Inc.) and co-authoring The JOY Experiments. In this energized episode of Hyper Local, we dive into: The JOY Experiments: “moving beyond traditional quality of life measures to prioritizing the economic, social and environmental benefits of infrastructure for the human spirit.”Prioritizing designing public spaces that foster genuine connections between citizens through shared experiences.How to create curiosity in our communities.Encouraging true play, agency, and unpredictable shared experiences.The Gaslight District.A change in PERSPECTIVE, through a change in LANGUAGE.And much more! Paul's message is clear: “If we want to change the world - we must change cities”. This episode is a must-listen for anyone passionate about the future of cities and communities, and about how we can start building thriving ones! Now some work for YOU! What is an incredible shared experience you have had with others? Put it in the comments and let's show the power of Play! #HyperLocalPodcast #EconomicDevelopment #TheJoyExparaments #PlayWorkLive #Play #Leadership #Collaboration #YouAreNotAlone #EcDev #HyperLocalPod #Ontario #City #Cities

    To what end? Paul Kalbfleisch, on the importance of Play, The Joy Experiments, and the Future of Cities-S2 E6.

  7. 22 mar

    Bright Ideas, Bright People, Bright Future. The EDCO Bright Ideas Competition Experience!-S2 E5

    Join former winners of the EDCO Bright Ideas Competition—Laura Thompson, Sushmitha Thirumalaivasan, and our host, Mason Ainsworth for an inspiring deep dive into one of Ontario's premier programs for economic development innovators. As former participants who turned bold ideas into recognized successes, we break down everything you need to know about the Bright Ideas Competition, hosted by the Economic Developers Council of Ontario (EDCO). This annual challenge invites EDCO members to collaborate in teams, tackle real-world economic development issues of their own choosing, and propose innovative solutions—complete with mentorship, reports, pitch videos, and the chance to present at the EDCO Annual Conference and Showcase. In this episode, we cover: Personal stories from the winners: Sushmitha reflects on her recent win—what the journey felt like, the biggest lessons learned, and how the experience continues to fuel her future career in economic development.Laura shares insights from one of the program's beginnings, how it shaped her professional path, and the long-term impact on her work in the field. Why you should get involved: Hear our collective take on the unique value of participating: building skills, expanding networks, testing creative approaches, contributing to stronger Ontario communities, and advancing your professional credentials. Brainstorming the future: We toss around exciting, forward-thinking ideas that the next cohort could explore to address emerging economic development challenges. Whether you're an economic development practitioner, student, or EDCO member considering your first Bright Ideas entry, this episode offers practical advice, motivation, and real-world inspiration from people who've been there and succeeded. Additional Information: Registration: Open now until Friday, April 10, 2026 (extended deadline!). It's easy to register—you must be an EDCO member to participate. Log in to your EDCO membership account at www.edco.on.ca, navigate to the Professional Development dropdown, and click on Bright Ideas Competition. This page has all the details about the competition along with the direct registration link. Cost: $50 (plus HST). Teams: Each participant will be assigned to a team. If you have someone you'd like to work with, please include this in an email to Stephanie Crilly at edco@edco.on.ca—EDCO will do their best to accommodate requests. Competition Kick-Off: Week of May 4, 2026, with a kick-off meeting. Topic: Each team develops their own relevant topic (focused on critical, innovative issues in Ontario economic development). The first report—a short proposal document (less than 1000 words)—is due June 19, 2026, outlining: A clear definition of the problem to be addressedA proposed methodology for tackling the issueA workplan and timeline, including meeting dates with your group and mentorWhy the topic is relevant to economic development and how it can help others solve similar issues Mentors: Each team is assigned a mentor from the Bright Ideas committee to provide guidance, answer questions, and support throughout the process. Guests: Laura Thompson – LinkedInSushmitha Thirumalaivasan – LinkedIn Now some work for YOU! Tag someone you think should join the Bright Ideas Competition! Or put an interesting topic in the comments to get them expired! Also, some Big News! Hyper Local just levelled up and is now supported by Storied Places Media, which specializes in producing audio and video podcasts for economic development organizations. If you have been thinking about starting a podcast but don’t have the time or know-how, now is the time to get started, and Storied Places Media can help. Learn more about their services and clients at storiedplaces.ca. #HyperLocalPodcast #EconomicDevelopment #Innovation #BrightIdeas #EDCO #OntarioBusiness #ProfessionalDevelopment #BrightIdeas2026 #Ontario #MEDI #EcDev

    Bright Ideas, Bright People, Bright Future. The EDCO Bright Ideas Competition Experience!-S2 E5

  8. 17 feb ·  Contenido extra

    15 Communities, 60 Seconds Each: Micro Interviews from EDCO 2026

    SPECIAL EPISODE ALERT: 15 Micro Interviews from the 69th EDCO! I just returned from the 69th Economic Developers Council of Ontario (EDCO) Conference in Toronto, where I decided to do something different. For the first time ever on Hyper Local: Economic Development in Ontario - Podcast. We went fully on-the-spot with 60-second (or less) micro-interviews! From Toronto to Kenora, Sarnia to Collingwood, County of Brant to Huron County, economic developers shared what’s happening right now in their communities. We heard about: • Revamping strategic plans. • Implementing Community Improvement Plans. • Downtown revitalization projects. • Hosting the next Ontario BIA Association conference. • And so much more! The format was simple and powerful: • What is your name? • Where are you from? • What’s something interesting going on in your community right now? The energy was electric, the stories were inspiring, and it reminded me why this work matters. Every community has something exciting happening, and every voice deserves to be heard. A huge thank you to every person who shared their time, smiled, and shared in 60 seconds or less. You made this special episode possible! In order: • Allyson Pele, The City of Kenora. • Brandon Webb, Ec. D, County of Brant. • Chris Watson, County of Huron. • Dylan Tamlin, City of St. Catharines. • Eric Wood, City of Toronto. • Evan Vatri, Municipality of Kincardine. • Felicia Krista (Sovereign), Municipality of North Middlesex. • Matt Reaume, Municipality of Chatham-Kent. • Matthew Slotwinski, Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership. • Prerna Sharma, Corporation of the Town of Collingwood. • Robyn Mulder Ec.D., Township of Wellington North. • Sabah Kazmi, City of Burlington. • Kassandra Brownridge, The Corporation of the Town of Ajax. • Steve Antunes, City of Elliot Lake. • Will Radix, Corporation of Haldimand County. To our listeners: If you loved this format, drop a comment below, send me a message, or share this post. Want to be featured next year? Come find me at EDCO’s 70th Annual Conference in 2027 — or message me on LinkedIn anytime. Let’s keep highlighting communities across Ontario and beyond! Which micro story stood out to you? Cheers to more voices, more stories, and more thriving communities! #HyperLocalPodcast #EDCO2026 #EconomicDevelopment #OntarioStrong #CommunityStories #RuralOntario #DowntownRevitalization #EcDev #MicroPod #Innovation  Economic Developers Council of Ontario (EDCO)

    15 Communities, 60 Seconds Each: Micro Interviews from EDCO 2026
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Mission: To inspire economic development professionals, encourage entrepreneurship, and foster community growth by sharing stories, lessons learned, impactful projects, case studies of successful initiatives, and innovative ideas for thriving communities.

Información

  • Creador
    Hyper Local Host: Mason Ainsworth
  • Años de actividad
    2026
  • Episodios
    20
  • Clasificación
    Apto
  • Copyright
    © Hyper Local Host: Mason Ainsworth
  • Mostrar sitio web
    Hyper Local: Economic Development