- New program to improve investment readiness of six Ontario regions -

Ottawa, Ontario, June 10, 2007 - McSweeney & Associates, a Canadian leader in economic development and management consulting, today announced it has been selected to co-manage the Economic Developers Council of Ontario's (EDCO's) new Local Economies in Transition Initiative, which is preparing Ontario to attract new investment.

"The Initiative is preparing Ontario to both retain existing investment, and to attract new investment," says Eric McSweeney, President, McSweeney & Associates.  "It responds to slowdowns and job losses across the province."

"Today's stronger Canadian dollar is driving up the price of exported products," he explains.  "At the same time, vertically integrated domestic supply chains are yielding to global supply chain production links.  In this situation, Ontario can use the new investment - and this Initiative will help Ontario attract and retain it."

The Initiative has province-wide and region-specific components.

Provincially, the Initiative will describe the current and future outlooks for key Ontario industry sectors.  It will also produce guidelines for attracting and retaining investment, and a self-assessment tool that Economic Development Officers (EDO's) can use to gauge their communities' investment readiness.

Regional components include economic profiles and Regional Roundtables that will bring together EDOs and professional site selectors, who will share up-to-date information on investment readiness and site selection practices.

The regional economic profiles will be set up on an Initiative web site.  EDOs will be asked to visit the site and contribute their views on economic aspects of their regions in an innovative approach to collaboration that utilizes a wiki engine.

"A draft report of Initiative findings will be shared with EDOs and, in the fall, EDCO leaders and Ontario's Minister of Economic Development and Trade will meet to discuss the findings," says Mr. McSweeney.  Initiative outcomes and action plans will also be presented at the EDCO 2008 Annual Conference."

"EDCO member participation will be a critical factor in the success of this initiative," Mr. McSweeney adds.  "EDCO members will need to provide information and join in the economic roundtables to gain the full benefit of the Initiative."

McSweeney & Associates is co-managing the Initiative with GHK International (Canada) Ltd.  The Ontario Ministry of Economic Development and Trade is funding the $250,000 Initiative through EDCO.