Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership

10/21/2026

Hiring and planning for your workforce starts with understanding the local labour market. What skills are available, where are the gaps, and how are other employers responding?

Our resource series continues with Dr. Mikelle Bryson-Campbell, Executive Director of the Sarnia Lambton Workforce Development Board, to highlight the information and resources available to local businesses.

Through local research, employer surveys and workforce planning reports, SLWDB helps employers better understand hiring trends and workforce needs.

Explore local workforce insights and resources for your business: https://www.slwdb.org/

10/20/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us for this morning’s Business Coffee Chat, and to Backhome Coffee Roastery for hosting us! It was great to catch up with familiar faces and meet more local business owners.

Join us for the next one! Subscribe to our newsletter for upcoming Business Coffee Chat dates: https://bit.ly/SLEPNewsletter

10/20/2026

Have plans to start, buy or expand a business? Access to financing can help you put those plans into action.

Our series continues with Sarah Reaume, CEO of Community Futures Lambton, to highlight its business loan program and the funding available to local entrepreneurs.

Community Futures Lambton provides repayable loan funding of up to $300,000, with competitive rates and no prepayment penalties. They also offer free business coaching and support with business planning and financials. Working alongside partners including the Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership, their team helps business owners access financing and practical advice to support their goals.

Find out how Community Futures Lambton could support your business: https://cflambton.com/

10/19/2026

Business owners across put their ideas, time and effort into building businesses that create jobs, serve our communities, and contribute to our local economy. Our role is to help them access the support they need along the way.

This , we're highlighting the resources and community partners available to help you start, manage and grow your business.

To begin the series, Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership CEO Matthew Slotwinski shares how supports businesses and works with partners across the region to advance economic opportunities. From business advice to connections with relevant programs and services, our team can help you find a starting point and identify support that fits your goals.

Watch Matthew's introduction and follow along throughout the week to learn more about the people and organizations you can turn to for business support.

Have a business idea, a challenge to work through or plans to grow? Connect with our team to explore the support available to you: https://www.sarnialambton.on.ca/

10/19/2026

Save the Date! Agricultural Forum – December 1, 2026

Join the Township of Warwick and the Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership for a morning of learning on succession planning, business resilience, and the future of farming.

Featuring keynote speaker Maggie van Camp, along with sessions on grant writing, OFA policies, and mental health support for ag producers, the forum will offer practical insights for farm families and business owners preparing for the future. The event will end with a curated farm-to-table lunch featuring ingredients from Warwick Township and Lambton County producers thanks to Chef Paresh at Personal Touch Eatery.

While agriculture is the focus, business owners across all sectors are welcome and will benefit from the succession planning keynote.

Date: December 1, 2026 | 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Location: East Lambton Community Complex, Watford
Registration deadline: November 23, 2026

Register today at: https://simpli.events/e/farmingforward

Please see the attached poster for more details and feel free to share it with your networks.

Thank you to our Lead Sponsors, Bluewater Power and Lambton Mutual, and our Community Sponsor, Enbridge, for their support of this event.

10/16/2026

Have a question about your business or want to meet other local business owners? Join us for our next Business Coffee Chat at Backhome Coffee Roastery.

Connect with the SLEP team, learn about programs and resources available to support your business, and compare notes with fellow entrepreneurs over complimentary coffee.

📅 Tuesday, October 20, 2026, from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m.
📍 Backhome Coffee Roastery, 112 Christina St. S., Sarnia

Bring your questions and tell us what you’re working on. We’d be glad to connect.

(Photo courtesy of Backhome Coffee Roastery’s page)

10/15/2026

Understanding your tax obligations is part of running a business. Join CRA liaison officers for two upcoming webinars covering common tax errors, bookkeeping practices, financial benchmarks and CRA services.

Register for free for the session that fits your business:
1. Tax help for T1 businesses, including self-employed individuals, sole proprietorships and partnerships
📅 November 5, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
🔗 https://simpli.events/e/CRA-T1-Nov5

2. Tax help for T2 businesses, including incorporated small businesses.
📅 November 18, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
🔗 https://simpli.events/e/CRA-T2-Nov18

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Comprendre vos obligations fiscales fait partie de la gestion d'une entreprise. Rejoignez les agents de liaison de l'ARC pour deux webinaires à venir couvrant les erreurs fiscales courantes, les pratiques de comptabilité, les références financières et les services de l'ARC.

Inscrivez-vous à la session qui correspond à votre entreprise :
1. Aide fiscale pour les entreprises de type 1, y compris les travailleurs indépendants, les entreprises individuelles et les sociétés de personnes
📅 5 novembre, de 10h00 à 12h00
🔗 https://simpli.events/e/CRA-T1-Nov5

2. Aide fiscale pour les entreprises T2, y compris les petites entreprises constituées.
📅 18 novembre, de 10h00 à 12h00.
🔗 https://simpli.events/e/CRA-T2-Nov18

Get Tax Help directly from the CRA for newly self-employed individuals, sole proprietorships, or partnerships (T1 Businesses). During this session, CRA liaison officers will explain common tax errors, demonstrate how to use the financial benchmarks for relevant industries, provide information on CRA...

10/14/2026

Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership Economic Development Officer Domenic Mazzuca is at The Battery Show in Detroit this week, alongside partner economic development organizations from Southwestern Ontario and the Ontario Manufacturing Communities Alliance (OMCA).

The focus is on connecting with companies in the electric vehicle, battery and related component sectors, highlighting 's capabilities and identifying opportunities for investment across the supply chain.

With expertise in chemical processing and advanced manufacturing, available industrial land and road, rail and port connections, Sarnia-Lambton offers practical advantages for manufacturers and suppliers. The region is within a four-hour drive of facilities producing more than 5.8 million vehicles annually.

Learn more about Sarnia-Lambton's EV and battery supply chain opportunities: https://www.sarnialambton.on.ca/ev-battery-supply-chain

10/14/2026

The SLEP team is at Lambton College event centre today for the Skilled Trades Expo and Apprenticeship Pathways Panel!

Stop by until 5:00 p.m. to explore skilled trades, meet local exhibitors and say hello to our team. The apprenticeship pathways panel starts at 4:00 p.m.

Admission is free, and no registration is required. Join us this afternoon!

Sarnia Lambton Workforce Development Board

10/14/2026

The Government of Canada is expanding support for AI adoption and commercialization. An additional $500 million over five years is available through the expanded Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative (RAII) to support AI adoption by businesses and organizations, bring Canadian-made AI solutions to market, and strengthen regional AI ecosystems.

Applications are being accepted from October 13, 2026, to January 19, 2027, 4:59 p.m. EST
Apply by November 24, 2026, if your proposed project and eligible costs start before March 31, 2027.

Learn more: https://feddev-ontario.canada.ca/en/funding-southern-ontario/regional-artificial-intelligence-initiative-southern-ontario

Before applying, applicants are encouraged to contact our team of Economic Development Officers, who can help assess the fit with the program and provide advice on application preparation by calling (519) 332-1820 or emailing [email protected].