New name, big move

It’s a new home and a new name for Peterborough and the Kawarthas Economic Development.

The organization previously known as Peterborough Economic Development (and the Greater Peterborough Economic Development Corp., or GPAEDC, before that) announced its new name at its annual general meeting Thursday at Market Hall.

With the new name comes a move to the VentureNorth building at George and King streets, as the organization leaves its Wolfe St. offices in May. The move will also mean the closure of the visitors’ centre it operates on Crawford Dr, near the site of the city’s new casino. The centre will be moved to VentureNorth formerly called the Promenade Building, as well.

PKED handles economic development for the city and county, with funding from each – thus the expanded name, president and CEO Rhonda Keenan said at the AGM.

“This region is known throughout the province as ‘Peterborough and the Kawarthas,’ Keenan stated in a release. “We have a well-established destination brand that went through a full stakeholder-consultation when it was established. This brand resonates with our funding stakeholders throughout the city, county and townships and is the singular brand that represents the region as a whole.”

The new name also works better with Peterborough and the Kawarthas Tourism, a division of the economic development corporation, and the Peterborough and the Kawarthas Business Advisory centre.

Thursday’s meeting included greetings from Mayor Daryl Bennett and Warden Joe Taylor and a review of the past year’s operations.

Terry McCullough, vice-president and general manager of Savage Arms Canada, also joined the board.

Last year’s results are available online at peterboroughed.ca/2016. Meanwhile, details on the move are at peterboroughed.ca/move