Essex County backtracks on Invest Windsor-Essex funding cuts

Essex County has decided to cut funding for Invest Windsor-Essex. CTV Windsor’s Robert Lothian has the details.

The County of Essex has walked back a decision to cut funding from Invest Windsor-Essex (IWE).

On Wednesday evening, council narrowly voted 8-6 in favour of restoring about $168,310 of the organization’s annual funding.

As part of its budget deliberations, the county elected to trim the $1,122,060 IWE budget by 15 per cent in part due to concerns about the organizations’ efficiency.

A motion brought forward by Deputy Warden Joe Bachetti sought a reversal of council’s decision due to new information.

“We made a decision that evening without consulting with our city partners who are 50-50 funders of this organization,” Bachetti said. “On top of that we had the U.S. election with now tariff threats.”

Bachetti noted his decision changed when he learned Invest Windsor-Essex would still be paying out a CEO salary and that the City of Windsor’s addition of an economic development department would not replace the IWE.

Windsor-Essex will need the IWE for its resources and contacts amidst repeated threats of wide sweeping tariff by U.S. President Donald Trump, Bachetti claimed.

The topic sparked a lengthy debate about the efficiency of IWE and whether it has proved beneficial for the entire region.

“I really don’t know if anything is going to change,” said Coun. and Town of Essex Mayor Sherry Bondy. “I don’t know why [IWE] would do any better because they’ve had two years, and they haven’t done any better.”

Bondy noted the concept of the organization is positive, but she’s unsure it will provide the result municipalities need.

In the end, Bondy along with Councillors Kimberly DeYong, Kirk Walstedt, Rob Shepley, Tony Gaffan, and Tracey Bailey voted against restoring the funding.

Bachetti noted previous conversations with Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens indicated the city also intends on continuing to fund IWE at the full rate.