Higher learning in Orillia will have a major economic impact, says the city, economic development manager, Robert Lamb.

The city has been pursuing a partnership with Lakehead University in Thunder Bay to begin offering classes in the fall of 2006.

"We approached Lakehead (University). This is a City of Orillia initiative, as it has been for the last couple of years, as we went out and talked to a number of universities both formally and more importantly, informally to gauge the interest level," said Lamb.

"In the end, we were able to enter into discussions with a partner which we thought we could be successful with, which is why we chose Lakehead."

Local interest in the proposal is strong. When Lakehead University president Dr. Fred Gilbert attended a public meeting in Orillia last March to discuss the school's vision for the proposed campus, more than 200 people crammed into city hall.

"It was one of the largest crowds we've ever had at a public meeting, which is absolutely fantastic. Even (the new rec centre) has never drawn those crowds," said Lamb. With the formation of a joint implementation team with members from Orillia and Thunder Bay, the project is at the business-development plan stage.

However, no commitments to money, structure or capital have been made on either side. "What we're dealing with is, 'what are the logical steps?'

From page 12

"How do they need to take place to grow a long-term vision for the community?" said Lamb.

"It's public knowledge that our preferred site for this is the Huronia Regional Centre grounds that are vacant ... It's probably the premier location anywhere in the province for this type of thing."

Despite the lack of firm commitment on both sides, a timeline has been established and involves offering a select group of programs in September 2006.

Lamb anticipates that some key decisions will be made over the summer in order to begin the recruitment of students this fall.

If Orillia's numbers become anything like Lakehead's existing numbers of approximately 7,500 students in Thunder Bay, the economic impact to the city could be in excess of $200 million.

But that's looking 10-to-15 years down the road cautioned Lamb.

"Anyone who thinks we'll have 5,000 or 7,500 students overnight, that is obviously not realistic. As you continue to build your programming and build your reputation, then you build your facility and infrastructure."

Education is not the only sector being pursued for the economic well being of the city. Both Lamb and Orillia Mayor Ron Stevens sit on the Ontario Mayor's Automotive Task Force that works with other levels of government to ensure the viability of the automotive industry in Ontario. Last year, Ontario was the largest single jurisdiction making vehicles in North America, surpassing Michigan.

"It's a major issue to us because if you take a look at (Business Times') Top 75 Employers in Simcoe County, many of those businesses are in the automotive industry," said Lamb.

"What we do know is that for every one assembly line job that is created or maintained, there is another eight auto parts jobs that go along with it."

Orillia is part of a group of Simcoe County municipalities that are working together to not only maintain the number of automotive assembly jobs in the county but also attract more.

The economic-development office is also working closely with existing manufacturers, like Smith's Aerospace that just completed a 56,000-square-foot expansion and hired more employees, and Leadbetter's Meats, which started in Longford Mills about six years ago as a family-run business and then expanded to the Drinkwater Business Park in Orillia a couple of years ago.

Currently with about 40 employees, the business is in the midst of another expansion that will almost double the size of the Drinkwater Park building.

"What most people don't realize about economic development is that 60 to 70 per cent of all economic development happens from within," said Lamb.

"It's the economy that people don't realize because they drive by the same businesses and don't realize that somebody's added two here or four there."