Ontario Power Generation — North America?s biggest
electric utility in generating capacity — is an invaluable member of the
economic development team that?s helping make Ontario a leader in the
chase for new business.
In fact, OPG (the electricity generation successor to the former Ontario
Hydro) recently won the Economic Developers Council of Ontario?s
inaugural Corporate Appreciation Award. The EDCO award recognizes
public and private companies that make substantial contributions to
economic development in the province.
“We get many visitors from around the world,” OPG Vice President of
Sales and Marketing David G. Comissiong says. “The award becomes an
opportunity for us to demonstrate to them our commitment to promoting
economic development in Ontario.”
Above right: Hydroelectric power is one of OPG?s competitive advantages.
In fact, 69 of the company?s 80 power generating facilities are hydro plants,
including one near famed Niagara Falls.
Pat Olive, chair of EDCO?s Communications and Technical Committee
and a member of the award selection committee, says OPG supports
Ontario?s economic development effort in a variety of ways.
“OPG?s contributions came not only by way of the economic
development officers, but by the upper echelon executives as well,” he says.
“One of the founding members of Team Ontario [a provincial marketing
initiative], they remained active to bring Team Ontario to the high stature it
enjoys today. They created SitesOntarioTM, which generates business leads
daily. They simplified for us the complexity of the new electrical services in
Ontario through a number of seminars. They continue to partner with us to
promote Ontario, and they have been a catalyst for other utilities to develop
complimentary economic development programs.
SitesOntario? (www.sitesontario.com) is a Website featuring
available buildings and land across Ontario, as well as community profiles
and other information. Other OPG Websites helpful to site seekers include
www.ontariopowergeneration.com and
www.directelectricity.com.
Olive says numerous OPG staff have provided oustanding support,
including Economic Development Program Manager Ahmed Mayeenuddin.
He has played an excellent liaison role, Olive reports. “He has been
constantly front and center for us.”
Winning the EDCO award “gives us a tremendous satisfaction that our
economic development program is giving value,” Mayeenuddin says. “We
strive to have a partnership with the municipal, provincial and federal
development agencies so we can respond to needs and bring comprehensive
solutions that go beyond electricity alone.”
OPG?s economic development initiatives, as the EDCO award
underscores, have become a high-voltage resource for business location in
Ontario.
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