NEWS RELEASE
CITY OF ORILLIA
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The City of Orillia was awarded the Regional Economic Impact Award at the Orillia District Chamber of Commerce annual Business Achievement Awards held on March 4 for the multi-million dollar Hydro One investment in Orillia.
“On behalf of Council and staff, I would like to thank the Orillia District Chamber of Commerce for nominating the City of Orillia for the Regional Economic Impact Award and to the judging panel for recognizing the significant impact Hydro One’s investment in Orillia will have on the community and the region as a whole,” said Mayor Steve Clarke. “Site preparations have now begun for the Ontario grid control centre, which will bring hundreds of highly-skilled, well-paying jobs to the community and a near-term economic impact of approximately $400 million.”
Mayor Clarke accepted the award on behalf of the city and recalled the lengthy negotiation process with Hydro One carried out by senior city staff and the Mayor’s Office, which was grounded in firm negotiating principles from the city to ensure the best value for Orillia.
“On behalf of the Orillia District Chamber of Commerce we congratulate the City of Orillia for finalizing the deal to bring Hydro One to Orillia! The opportunities and potential for growth go well beyond the initial job creation of this new venture. This will be great for our current Chamber members and local businesses to grow and support our new community partners,” said Nathan Brown, President of the Orillia District Chamber of Commerce.
Hydro One is investing approximately $150-million to build the 100,000 sq. ft. provincial grid control centre in the Horne Business Park, located in West Orillia. The grid control centre will ensure electricity is moving safely across the province to large industrial customers, local electricity utilities and Hydro One’s 1.4 million residential and business customers.
The city is still waiting on the Ontario Energy Board’s ruling regarding the sale of the Orillia Power Distribution Corporation to Hydro One. The city is retaining the generation side of Orillia Power.
“I’d also like to congratulate and thank all of the local businesses and organizations recognized at the Chamber’s Business Achievement Awards. Your entrepreneurship, hard work and innovation are the backbone of our economy,” added Mayor Clarke.
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