SMARTER TECHNOLOGYTompkins RoboticsWORKING TO DRIVE BAY COUNTY, MICHIGAN FORWARD!Bay Future, Inc.NEW DEVELOPMENTS - FOR PEOPLE, BUSINESS, AND NATURECity of Green Bay, WisconsinBUSINESSINFOCUSMAGAZINE.COMAUGUST 2021EDITOR’S CORNER3In this issue’s Print on Demand – The Intersection of Retail and Art, Margaret Eaton explores a trend on the rise: print-on-demand manufacturing, and the role such a model can play in both reducing waste and celebrating creativity. Utilizing small-batch, lean manufactur-ing principles, Print on Demand (POD) companies can meet consumer desires for fashion and décor items that speak to them without carrying costly inventory stockpiles or producing excess product that will only go to waste. Clothing, backpacks, notebooks, water bottles, mugs, shower curtains and more can be produced featuring original art, text or graphics – and in doing so, not only does the customer get exactly what they want, but independent artists can gain access to markets and audiences they may not otherwise have dreamed of reaching.It’s truly a win-win-win: customers appreciate being able to source items that reflect their tastes, their quirks, or their fandoms; artists are able to put their work out there while receiving a portion of the sale price; and POD companies like are able to, “address several retail issues,” writes Margaret, “including consumer demand for individual-ization and customization; channels for expression of the cre-ativity of artists; and opportunities for those working in the gig economy to monetize their art.” All of this while encouraging shopping from home.Tim Hocken EditorSuite 300, 7071 Bayers Rd. | Halifax, NS | B3L 2C2 | CanadaP: 1-647-479-2163 | E: EDITORTim HockenDEPUTY EDITORJaime McKeeCOPY EDITORSThora Smith | Allister HavercroftCONTRIBUTING WRITERSPauline Müller | Jessica Ferlaino | Robert HoshowskyMargaret Eaton | Karen Hawthorne Allison Dempsey | David CaldwellCONTENT TEAM MANAGERTom EnglandSENIOR CONTENT MANAGERBrad Mike BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Erin Wells CONTENT MANAGERSAaron Ferguson | James CorbettSALES & MARKETING MANAGERLuke SimmsSALES TEAMPamela Taylor | Kayla Brown | Morgan CulpepperPRODUCTION COORDINATORChantal De BrouwerGRAPHIC DESIGN MANAGERSeverina GachparovaGRAPHIC DESIGNERSLaura Pratt | Ashley DowlingEbic Tristary | Yoana Ilcheva REGIONAL DIRECTORAdam CameronOPERATIONS MANAGERJonathan FisherCONTROLLERJen HamiltonPUBLISHERJeff HockenINSIDE AUGUST WORKFORCE & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 28 GROWING AND THRIVING IS WHAT THEY DO BEST IN MOSCOWCity of Moscow, Idaho 4 The Intersection of Retail and Art Increasingly, discerning consumers looking for unique apparel and home décor products are turning to print-on-demand (POD) manufacturing busi-nesses partnered with independent artists. We decided it was time to find out what the buzz is all about.TRANSPORT, SUPPLY CHAIN & LOGISTICS 5BUSINESS IN FOCUS SUPPLYSIDE EAST24 – 25 August, Secaucus, NJThe best products start with the best ingredients. At the East Coast’s leading ingredient and solutions trade show, join 175+ exhibitors featuring the most innovative ingredients and formulation techniques to drive your brand forward. Gain insight and network with the leading health and nutrition industry professionals from across the globe.For more information VIRTUAL LICENSING EXPO24 – 26 August, onlineExplore the widest range of brands available to license in the world at Licensing Expo, the largest event dedicated to licensing and brand extension. Whether you are looking to spot trends, build partnerships, or secure brand rights for your products, Licensing Expo has your answer.For more information FARM PROGRESS SHOW31 August – 2 September, Decatur, ILFor over 50 years, the Farm Progress Show has connected farmers from across the globe with agriculture’s leading companies. With hundreds of exhibitors, there’s no better place to engage with the latest farm products and the specialists who developed, tested and designed them. Whether you are looking to innovate with the latest ag-technology, learn from industry experts, or share your farming legacy with your family, the Farm Progress Show has it all.For more information HOSPITALITY SUMMIT1 – 3 September, Mexico City, MXAt this year’s Hospitality Summit, connect with more than 300 industry experts, build new business connections with potential buyers and partners, get up to date on news and innovations in hospitality, enjoy abundant opportunities for networking, and gain the skills needed to effect positive change in the industry.For more information FIME BY INFORMA MARKETS1 – 3 September, Miami Beach, FL2 August – 1 October, onlineFIME is the annual must-attend event for manufacturers spearheading innovation in medical devices and equipment and the distributors and buyers looking to help expand into new verticals and markets. The in-person event will help you strengthen relationships, showcase your products, and solidify partners, while a two-month series of online networking gives you more time to engage with valuable contacts.For more information INDUSTRY EVENTS6Are you planning an event relating to North America’s growing Business Industry?To get your event listed in Business in Focus, please contact us at least six to eight weeks before the event takes place at or call 1-647-479-2163PORTER AIRLINES TO LAUNCH JET SERVICEAfter grounding its fleet for over a year, Porter Airlines is once again looking to take to the skies, in addition to expanding its service offerings. The regional airline is looking to expand beyond its headquarters at Toronto’s Billy Bishop Island Airport with an investment in up to 80 Embraer E190-E2 aircraft. Jets are prohibited from landing and taking off at the island airport, as flights are limited to turboprop service, which means Porter is looking to join the fleets at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport where it will become major competition for Canada’s leading airlines. I3 ENERGY TO ACQUIRE CENOVUS ENERGY ASSETSi3 Energy PLC will acquire certain petroleum and infrastruc-ture assets from Cenovus Energy Inc. in a deal valued at $52.2 million. i3 intends to raise funds to cover the deal, offering the option to retail shareholders. The Canadian oil and gas producer will add scale to i3’s growing list of development opportunities as the acquisition promises operational synergies, predictable production (low decline), a large reserve and strong free cash flow. The acquisition will also lower operating costs in the near term, while increasing third party tariff income. With the expansion of its fleet, the airline is also expected to launch service to more destinations in Canada, the United States, and the Caribbean. Its restart is expected to take place in phases commencing September 8, 2021, with its recovery growth plan to be enacted mid-2022. Porter originally showed interest in the Bombardier C Series in 2013, but the conditional order it placed lapsed. Instead, it placed a firm order for 30 aircraft from Embraer, with the purchase right options for 50 more. The list price is $5.8 billion, but Porter is likely to receive a discount. With the deal, the airline is set to become the North American launch customer for the E190-E2 jet.INDUSTRY NEWS7INDUSTRY NEWSMIKISEW GROUP OF COMPANIES NAMED 2021 AEDC AWARD WINNERSMikisew Group of Companies, a group of thirteen operating entities in Alberta’s Athabasca Delta and Wood Buffalo National Park regions, are the recipients of the 2021 Aboriginal Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) Award presented by the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB) and Rio Tinto. The award will be presented on September 22, 2021. The AEDC Award recognizes companies that facilitate economic development in communities, demonstrate strong leadership skills, and support innovation, and Mikisew does AMAZON TAKING OVER FORMER FORD PLANTE-commerce giant Amazon is undertaking a redevelop-ment project at the site of the former Ford assembly plant in London, Ontario, where the automaker operated for 44 years until 2011. The site is the planned location for its new fulfill-ment center. Construction was underway before the buyer was identified publicly. In 2015, the site was listed for sale at $22.75 million. Purchased by Broccolini Construction, the facility was torn down in the same year. The 254-hectare site is ideally located near Highways 401 and 402. It is proximate to Highway 403 and just hours away from Toronto, Michigan, and New York. Amazon also plans on building two warehouses in London. just that. Seeing a decline in traditional sectors like fishing and fur trading, in 1991 it pivoted to ensure long-term sustainable economic progress, prosperity and self-reliance in balance with environmental sustainability. Mikisew Cree First Nation is home to 3NE, the largest remote solar farm in Canada. With projects like this, the Group works toward economic and community development while driving innovation, corporate performance, and pride of operation in the community of over 3,000 people. 8INDUSTRY NEWSNACG TO MAKE HISTORY WITH INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTOperating under the consortium name Red River Valley Alliance, North American Construction Group Ltd. (NACG) and its partners, Acciona and Shikun & Binui, announced their long-term involvement in a $2.75 billion project to mitigate floods in the Fargo-Moorhead-West Fargo Metropolitan Area in North Dakota via a 30-mile river diversion channel that will carry stormwater from the Red River away from population centers. After a five-year tender process, the project proposal was selected by the Metro Flood Diversion Authority of Fargo-Moorhead, leaving the team responsible for the design, con-struction, financing, operation, and maintenance of the flood diversion channel for a period of 29 years. The project also entails the construction of associated infrastructure including bridges, rail crossings and aqueducts. The project will be the largest of its kind ever undertaken by NACG and will serve as a major milestone in its corporate strategy for diversification and sustainability. The need for a diversion canal has been studied since 2007 and is a climate change project aimed at reducing the catastrophic threat of the 100-year floods to 235,000 residents in the area. Financial closing is expected later this year. ALGOMA STEEL RECEIVES FUNDING TO SUPPORT GREEN PLANAlgoma Steel Inc. is set to receive $420 million from the federal government to support its green plan, which includes the proposed transformation to electric arc furnace (EAF) steel-making, away from the coal-fired steel making processes cur-rently employed. The move could result in a 70 percent reduction of carbon emissions, making the project one of the lowest-cost-per-ton in terms of greenhouse gas emissions in Canada and position-ing Algoma Steel as one of the greenest flat-rolled steel opera-tions in North America. Up to $200 million of the funding will come from Innovation Science and Economic Development Canada’s Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF) through the Net Zero Accelerator, which supports the rapid expedition of decarbonization projects like Algoma Steel’s industrial transformation. The remaining $220 million will be available over a four-year period under an investment agreement in principle with Canada Infrastructure Bank. The government is supporting this project to ensure there is green steel available for downstream manufacturing opera-tions in Canada, including automotive, consumer products and infrastructure. It is the largest funding announcement in the history of the city of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, where Algoma Steel is located. 9Next >