The Ontario Economic Summit (OES) celebrates the recent announcements made by its long-time supporter, Vale.  The company recently announced the start of its CORe (challenging ore Recovery) project at the Clarabelle Mill. This project is a $200 million investment that will increase metal recoveries at the mill by four per cent, increasing the value extracted from existing resources.

The CORe project includes the construction of a new 38,000-square foot flotation plant containing a new flotation system using state-of-the-art technology. The project also involves technology improvements to existing mill infrastructure and an equipment laydown yard to accommodate the anticipated workforce.

The CORe project is expected to create 150-200 skilled trade jobs during peak construction. Construction is scheduled to be complete July 2013.

Vale has also announced its major contract awards for the Long Harbour Processing Plant. A two-year $600-million contract was awarded to KBAC Constructors, a Kiewit – BMA – G.J. Cahill Partnership to provide mechanical, piping,, electrical and instrumentation services for the construction of the Long Harbour Processing Plant in Newfoundland and Labrador. The project is scheduled for completion in February 2013 and will have a permanent workforce of 475.

Innovative and successful companies like Vale will be available for networking and information sharing at the OES. Register today.

I fully understand we are in the midst of an economic downturn and a lot of people are going through some very trying times. But what I don’t understand is why we are constantly bombarded with bad news – TV, radio, internet and print.

To be fair, there are some good economic stories out there but they seem to become lost in the sea of gloom and doom. 

So here’s a sampling of some recent good news… 

1. FGF Brands – Concord, Ontario

A family owned food business under the very innovative leadership of Sam Ajmera continues to grow at a 30% rate. [more]

2. Christie Digital Systems Canada Inc. – Kitchener, Ontario

As the leader in the transformation of mechanical cinema to 3D and digital imaging, the company has been able to continue to grow while investing more in R&D in Canada than its parent company is investing in Japan. [more]

3. Sweetpea Baby Food – Toronto, Ontario

This start up didn’t have the capital to dedicate to marketing its new line of baby food so they developed an “ambassador program” – a grassroots style of marketing using M2M (mom to mom) marketing. [more]

4. RIM – Waterloo, Ontario

After pushing hard to move their smart phones into the broader consumer market, even through the recession millions of people are purchasing new blackberry smart phones. [more]

Balance is key – it’s important to know both the good and bad so we can be inspired but also well informed at the same time. So get inspired and tell us your good news!