In November of last year, when the City of Peterborough invited applications for the position of the city’s new economic development director, Mayor Jeff Leal characterized the pending hiring as one of the most important the municipality will ever make.
That there were a whole lot of people watching what would transpire was a given. Earlier in the year, city councillors endorsed a staff recommendation to end its longstanding funding of Peterborough and Kawarthas Economic Development (PKED), bringing to an abrupt end that agency’s 25-year provision of economic development and tourism services on behalf of both the city and county.
Those employed at PKED lost their jobs as business leaders and stakeholders questioned the move, all while fretting over what direction things would go as the city prepared to take on economic development in-house, creating the need for a new division and its associated director position.
In late January, clarity was provided when the city announced that Darryl Julott had been hired as Peterborough’s economic development director.
In his first local media interview since starting his new job last Monday (February 10), Julott tells kawarthaNOW that he’s aware of the public scrutiny that preceded his hiring, and the prospect that the jury will be out for some time yet as he settles into his new role.
That said, if he’s feeling any pressure above and beyond that typically associated with starting a new job in a new place, he’s not letting it get in the way of his getting off to a good start.
“Challenge is just another word for opportunity,” says Julott, downplaying any added pressure he may feel.
“The challenges we’re going to face, from a transitional standpoint and also moving economic development forward, are opportunities. That’s how I’m focused on things and how everything is going to be positioned.”
“A big part of my work for the first six days, and will continue to be for the foreseeable future, is to make sure I’m out in the community — I’m meeting with people. Whether that’s a regular person, a business leader, a community stakeholder, a volunteer … making sure they feel that they’re supported, they have the ability to connect with the team, and they have the ability to share their thoughts and opinions.”
“Any transition presents its challenges, but our goal is to get to here, and here are the things we’re going to do get here. Our goal is to make sure they’re communicated with; to make sure we’re sharing what we’re working on and that people have an idea of what’s going on. That will be a big part of the plan over the next 30 days — really looking at our communication strategy around economic development.”
Julott arrives in Peterborough from Clarington, where he served as an economic development officer for three months. Prior to that, he worked for 12 years as a senior manager with Toronto-based Digital Main Street, a federally and provincially funded service and program that helps “main street” businesses achieve digital transformation.
Julott says experience gained in both roles has well prepared him for his new tasks.
“I was very fortunate and blessed to work with almost every single municipal economic development department across Ontario,” he notes. “Not only was I able to deliver Digital Main Street program, but I was able to deliver projects in collaboration with the City of Toronto around business retention and expansion and site selection. I learned a lot from a lot of people.”
“This is the first time economic development has been in-house for the City of Peterborough in quite a while. I think my kind of non-traditional exposure to the economic development world has prepared me quite well for this.”
Putting his name forth for his new position, says Julott, was based on his belief that there is a unique opportunity in Peterborough “to reimagine the future of the city, and how we take that from an economic development standpoint … how we bring expertise in-house and continue to drive that forward.”
“It’s a city with a ton of passion. For the people that live here, that are from here, and even for the people that have moved away who are from here, it’s a place that’s home. Having grown up in a suburb of Scarborough, where people were equally as passionate, that resonates with me.
“And from a professional standpoint, the chance to really dive in and help shape the future of the city, and collaborate with other city departments, and with the county, the Chamber, the DBIA, Community Futures and others — that has me excited to dive in and just get going.”
While at it for just a short time, Julott has already formed some thoughts on priorities as seen through an economic development lens. He says securing serviceable employment land — long a huge challenge — is “absolutely a priority for the whole municipality.”
“We’re committed to making sure we have the appropriate amount of employment land. That includes looking at the land the OP (Official Plan) indicates within our boundaries. It includes being open to cross-border servicing discussions (with Peterborough County). We’re turning over every possible stone to make sure we’re looking at every opportunity. Top to bottom, the city is committed to this issue. It’s something we’re going to drive forward.”
“What I’m focused on right now is meeting with as many businesses, stakeholders, and community leaders as possible, ensuring a diverse perspective and opinion base is well represented, with the overarching goal of the design and launch of a full-fledged economic development strategy.”
“Also ensuring that we have just as much of a focus on investment attraction, tied to that (employment) land question, as we do on business retention. How are we supporting existing businesses, and ensuring they not only stay but they’re growing and thriving?”
“I call this day six-and-a-half, so we’re still getting into the weeds but, at a high level, that’s generally where the focus is right now.”
Julott adds there is “the elephant in the room” looming over all this: “This kind of taboo word that starts with a T — tariffs.” How their potential imposition plays out could potentially throw a wrench in the works.
While that creates some uncertainty, Julott points to one factor that Peterborough and the surrounding region has always had on its positive side of the ledger. For all its challenges, this remains a desirable place to live and work for those looking for a change in lifestyle and pace.
“It was what, an hour-and-a-half ago, that the prime minister announced the high-speed train is going to stop in Peterborough. There’s a reason the train will stop in Peterborough. I think that signifies to players that Peterborough is a place that they should consider investing in, consider growing their business in, and consider living in.”
