Business Resources Links

Downtown and Community Development
The City of Kitchener has been working diligently, in response to the downtown’s natural evolution, to help ensure the area’s economic vitality. In recent years, continuous steps have been taken towards improving the city’s core. Collectively, these steps have laid a further foundation on which we can continue to build the future of our downtown.

The efforts of the City, as well as the not-for-profit and private sectors, has resulted in many downtown success stories, such as the Children’s Museum, the Kitchener Market , Regency Towers, and the arrival of Wilfrid Laurier University's Faculty of Social Work and UW’s School of Pharmacy.

And the hard work continues. Continually increasing people activity — those living, learning, working and visiting in the downtown — is critical in order to continue building on the current momentum to create a thriving environment that remains desirable to businesses, residents and visitors alike. So far, the numbers are impressive... and growing.

As of 2009, more than 11,000 people work in downtown Kitchener, while more than 19,000 people make their homes in the core area and its bordering neighbourhoods. Nearly 1,400 new housing units have been added to the core since 1996. And annually, more than 300,000 people are attending annual special events in downtown Kitchener.

We’re headed in the right direction. We have a municipal government which recognizes that a healthy downtown is what makes for a healthy community. And their vision for downtown Kitchener remains as clear as it was 100 years ago — to make the downtown a place for people.

Contact Information:

Cory Bluhm, Manager, Downtown and Community Development
6th Floor, Berlin Tower
Kitchener City Hall 200 King Street West
Phone: 519-741-3400 ext. 3375
Fax: (519) 741-2624
E-mail: cory.bluhm@kitchener.ca 

Business Development

The City of Kitchener’s Business Development section promotes and encourages economic growth in the city to generate employment opportunities and increased tax assessment.

Local industrial and commercial businesses are assisted to expand their capabilities both within and outside the local marketplace and the section works with local companies who wish to develop joint ventures or strategic alliances with companies throughout the world.

Specific development services include site selections, site tours, development marketing and sale of City-owned land, and assistance in expediting development plans through various municipal and regional systems.

Waterloo Region Small Business Centre (SBC)

The Waterloo Region SBC's mandate is to encourage and contribute to the enterprising spirit and economic development of our community by assisting entrepreneurs with the development of new or existing businesses.

The SBC provides a variety of services to individuals preparing to start a new business venture in Waterloo Region. The business centre includes access to software, the Internet, commercial electronic databases, library reference materials, research assistance, publications for sale, fee-based office services (ex. photocopying) and business registrations. Staff provide complimentary consulting services to advise entrepreneurs in the preparation of business plans or to provide other guidance.

The centre is located on the main floor of Kitchener City Hall at 200 King Street West. Satellite offices are located at Cambridge and Waterloo City Halls.

To learn more about the SBC and its programs, visit www.waterlooregionsmallbusiness.com

Business Links

Local Resources
Canada's Technology Triangle
Communitech
Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce
Downtown Kitchener Business Improvement Area
Waterloo Regional Tourism Marketing Corporation

General Business and Reference
Area Development
Business Development Bank
National Library of Canada
Statistics Canada

Government Links

Provincial
Business Ontario
COBSC Canadian-Ontario Business Service Centre
Government of Ontario
Ontario Investment Service
Ontario Ministry of Economic Development and Trade
Workplace Safety and Insurance Board

Federal
Canada Revenue Agency
Government of Canada
Human Resources & Social Development Canada
Industry Canada
Strategis - Industry Canada

Associations

Economic Developers Association of Canada
Economic Developers Council of Ontario
International Downtown Association
International Economic Development Council