Plan priority 05

A Diverse Local Economy

Businesses and producers already operating in Port Hope should be able to remain, expand and create more local value. New applicants should receive a clear route from first inquiry to opening. Wesleyville can add to a diverse economy built across downtown, agriculture, tourism, film, fishing, local food, small employers, skilled trades and modern businesses that fit the town.

Make Port Hope easier to invest in

Port Hope should welcome investment that fits the community, creates durable local value and pays fairly for the services it uses. Town Hall will provide clear rules, timely service and accountable decisions.

The short version

At a glance

Three first actions

Give serious business applicants one accountable municipal contact from first inquiry to opening.
Publish required information, target response times, external approvals and escalation routes.
Strengthen business retention, downtown occupancy, agriculture, local procurement, tourism, film and skilled-trades opportunities.

What it costs

Applicants and industries should pay fair and lawful fees for the services and infrastructure they use. New economic-development programs must identify their municipal cost, partner contributions and expected local value.

How you can check

More businesses open, remain or expand.
Approval timelines and external delays are publicly tracked.
Downtown vacancies decline.
Local employment, procurement, agriculture and visitor-economy activity improve where reliable data exists.

Jordan’s commitment

A diverse economy keeps Port Hope resilient.

What I'll do

Concrete commitments

Review the complete path from first inquiry to opening and publish where files stall
Assign a single accountable contact to coordinate municipal departments and flag external blockers
Publish target response times, required information and escalation routes
Use a Port Hope fit test covering jobs, infrastructure, environment, community value and taxpayer exposure
Build better links among local producers, restaurants, institutions, retailers and residents

What I support

Business retention, expansion and local procurement
Agriculture, value-added food and stronger producer access
Tourism, fishing, film and responsible use of municipal assets
Investment that creates local work, uses existing infrastructure and adds community value

Standards I'll apply

Build a diverse economy across major projects, downtown, agriculture, tourism, film, fishing, food, trades and modern businesses
Keep safety, environmental, heritage and planning rules clear and dependable
Set fees from real service costs and economic impact
Give applicants one accountable owner from inquiry to opening

Details and trade-offsHow the position works

Business retention and local supply chains

Economic development should begin with the businesses and producers already operating here. Town Hall should understand what is blocking expansion, where local purchasing is practical and how agriculture, food businesses, trades, institutions and retailers can create more value together.

Regular business-retention and expansion outreach
Clear escalation for municipal barriers
Lawful local-procurement opportunities
Better links among producers, restaurants, institutions and retailers
Public reporting on businesses retained, expanded or lost

Tourism, fishing, film and municipal assets

Review whether Port Hope receives fair value, covers real service costs and reinvests sensibly while staying welcoming to visitors and industry.

Film activity and location services
Fishing tourism, waterfront and boat-launch use
Major events and sponsorships
Tourism-linked municipal assets
Set any new visitor or industry fees from a clear service-cost and economic-impact case

Clear rules and accountable timelines

Town Hall will protect fire, structural, accessibility, drainage, environmental, heritage and neighbour standards while guaranteeing clarity and accountable timelines.

In practice

One accountable path

A single contact will explain the process, coordinate departments, keep the file moving, identify outside approvals and tell applicants who owns the next action.

Clear rules and dependable timelines are economic infrastructure.

What an honest decision must include

Faster service requires clear applications and adequate staff capacity
Local preference must operate within procurement law and value-for-money duties
Fair industry and visitor contributions should recover real costs without becoming punitive

ResponsibilityWho is responsible

Responsibility sets the route to action. Jordan will keep the file moving until residents have a clear answer.

Port Hope controls

Municipal approvals, service standards, economic-development coordination and many fees
Municipal procurement and use of local assets
Tourism, events, downtown and film-support activities within local authority

Cooperation required

County, provincial and federal approvals and programs
Conservation authorities, utilities and regulators
Businesses, producers, education partners, tourism groups and investors

Measure progressHow you can check the result

Business openings, expansions, retention and local jobs
Approval times and files stalled by external agencies
Local procurement and local supply-chain participation
Downtown vacancies, film activity and tourism spending where official data exists
Agriculture participation and investor satisfaction

Official sourcesRead the public record

How I'll Govern

Help improve the plan

Agree, disagree or see something missing?

Serious public feedback should improve this plan. Tell me what is right, what is wrong and what needs more work.

Share feedback on this plan