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WELLINGTON COUNTY CREATIVE INDUSTRIES: CULTURE, CREATIVITY AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

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Wellington County enjoys the best of both worlds—the charms of

beautiful, historical countryside and community life with the advantages of being close to larger urban and metropolitan centres.

Wellington County’s eclectic lifestyle is highly attractive to creative types who value the cultural benefits of cities but also appreciate natural beauty, open spaces, a sense of community and a spirit of independence. With a lower cost of living and doing business than the neighbouring urban regions, Wellington County is an ideal location for creative professionals seeking a refreshing, stimulating place to live and work.

Keep reading to learn the Wellington County story.

WELLINGTON COUNTY CREATIVE INDUSTRIES: CULTURE, CREATIVITY AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

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Wellington County is composed of a rich fabric of towns, villages and country areas where inhabitants can escape the pressures of major urban areas.

A rapidly increasing number of creative professionals can work from anywhere, and for such people, Wellington County is an appealing alternative to working and living in the city. The County’s scenic natural surroundings and heritage architecture allow them to find a comfort zone in a place steeped in a tradition of creativity, entrepreneurship and hard work. The number of award-winning artists, writers and performers who have chosen to call Wellington County home serves as testament to the County’s suitability for creative ventures.

Along with its broad swaths of picturesque countryside, the County includes numerous vibrant population centres full of coffee houses, art museums and historical limestone buildings that provide an inspirational setting. Many creative professionals are seeking their entrepreneurial and artistic visions in or near the communities of:

m Elora m Erin m Fergus m Rockwood m Palmerston m Hillsburgh

m Mount Forest m Harriston m Arthur m Drayton m Aberfolye

In addition, Wellington County surrounds and interacts with Guelph—a city of more than 120,000 people—and is adjacent to other economic centres such as Kitchener-Waterloo, Orangeville and the western Greater Toronto-Hamilton Area (GTHA), areas of creative activity and innovation.

Only 1.5 hours from the U.S. border with access to 135 million people within a day’s drive, Wellington County is part of the broad, rapidly-expanding economic region known as the Greater Golden Horseshoe (GGH). The total population of the GGH is 8.8 million—over one-quarter of Canada’s total population. Compared to major U.S. mega-regions, the GGH would rank fifth behind (1) New York, (2) Los Angeles/Long Beach, (3) Chicago and (4) Washington/Baltimore.

S Downtown Erin

WELLINGTON COUNTY CREATIVE INDUSTRIES: CULTURE, CREATIVITY AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

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R Market Overview

“Creative professionals” are people engaged in endeavours such as: m Marketing

m Scientific research and development m Engineering m Writing m Art

m Design

m Theatre

m Communications m Television m Radio

m Motion pictures m Strategy

m Product development

This sector’s growth is driven by professionals seeking to work for themselves (some out of their home), as well as by those who telecommute.

S mallot creek group inc.

Which creative professionals will find Wellington County to be the perfect place to start their own entrepreneurial venture? People who want to make a difference, who relate to nature, who put a priority on living in a place that meets their lifestyle objectives and allows them to freely pursue their passions.

WELLINGTON COUNTY CREATIVE INDUSTRIES: CULTURE, CREATIVITY AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

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z , Why is Wellington County an ideal location for creative professionals?

High quality of life with rural charm and urban amenities

WELLINGTON COUNTY CREATIVE INDUSTRIES: CULTURE, CREATIVITY AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

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Moving our business to Wellington County a few years ago was a great decision. We are close to our major markets and we are surrounded by a large talent pool that meets our production needs. Our business continues to grow and we are enjoying the high quality of life that the County offers.

– Brent & Lauren Hallman, Tivoli Films Inc.

Wellington County consistently ranks as the Ontario municipal jurisdiction that is home to the most horses, and the County’s equine industry is large and diverse, comprised of a broad range of sporting, recreational and breeding interests. Even those who aren’t horse aficionados enjoy the excitement and diversity the industry brings to the County.

Larger urban centres are as close as Guelph or Waterloo, and people who live in the County readily enjoy the cultural landscape of the entire Greater Golden Horseshoe, which includes world-class universities, museums, parks, restaurants, shops and venues for professional sports, art, theatre, opera, dance and film.

Critically, broadband has been extended into Wellington County to facilitate use of high-speed internet by creative professionals who want to take advantage of what the County has to offer.

WELLINGTON COUNTY CREATIVE INDUSTRIES: CULTURE, CREATIVITY AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

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Access to outstanding postsecondary institutions

Wellington County is 30 minutes from the prestigious University of Guelph, which is known as Canada’s “innovation” university, as well as from Conestoga College. Both schools offer creative professionals an opportunity to add to their income as lecturers, to enhance their knowledge and credentials and to interact with fellow creative people.

Of particular interest to creative professionals running their own businesses, the University of Guelph actively promotes imaginative entrepreneurship through initiatives such as its Catalyst Centre and the Hub Incubator Program at the Centre for Business and Social Entrepreneurship. Other organizations in the region—Launchit! Minto and Innovation Guelph—also provide substantial resources and assistance to creative professionals in Wellington as they chase their entrepreneurial dreams.

S Riverfest Elora

WELLINGTON COUNTY CREATIVE INDUSTRIES: CULTURE, CREATIVITY AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

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“ Easy Access to Local and International Transportation

Wellington County residents enjoy an array of transportation and shipping options that provide ready access to local, North American and global locations— facilitating travel and lowering business costs.

The County is an hour’s drive from Toronto Pearson International Airport, Canada’s principal airport, serving more than 100,000 passengers a day on 1,200 flights to over 30 Canadian cities, 87 U.S. cities and 30 international destinations. It serves more passengers than any other North American airport except JFK in New York City. The Region of Waterloo International Airport— which is also one of Canada’s busiest airports—is even closer than Pearson.

The County also offers quick entry into to the United States via several nearby border crossings. Over 150 million North American consumers are within one day’s drive.

S tivoli films inc.

WELLINGTON COUNTY CREATIVE INDUSTRIES: CULTURE, CREATIVITY AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

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Not only do creative professionals find the lifestyle they’re looking for in Wellington County, they also save money. Generally speaking, the cost of living and doing business in Wellington County is considerably less than in Guelph, Waterloo and the GTA.

S

Lower cost

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The availability of shared-services/soft-landing spaces in the County are a lure for some "lone eagles" running their own businesses and testing their business models.

Having a location that can be leased on a short-term, renewable basis helps provide a start.

Looking for a Wellington County landing spot? Check out LaunchIt! Minto

WELLINGTON COUNTY CREATIVE INDUSTRIES: CULTURE, CREATIVITY AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

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Rockwood Conservat ion Area

Economic Development County Of Wellington 74 Woolwich St, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1H 3T9 T 519.837.2600 x 2614 F 519.837.1909 E ecdev@wellington.ca Visit us online wellington.ca/business