General
What is the LEDC?
The London Economic Development Corporation (LEDC) is the economic development agency for the City of London, Canada.
Established in 1998, LEDC is a private, not-for-profit organization that is funded through a Purchase of Service Agreement with the City of London.
The LEDC is governed by an independent board of directors, comprised of accomplished business and community leaders.
The LEDC is a results driven organization that employs a lean team of experienced professionals who provide information, advice, and assistance to growing London businesses and foreign investors.
What does the LEDC do?
Working with business, government, academic institutions, and industry partners, LEDC supports the growth of existing businesses, attracts new businesses to London, and strives to ensure companies have the talent, resources, and business conditions they need to continue scaling.
Services
What services does LEDC offer?
The LEDC provides free economic development services to existing companies and foreign companies across five key sectors, including food processing, manufacturing, digital media and tech, professional services, and health. We provide leadership in some of the following areas:
- Attracting new business and foreign direct investment to London
- Retaining existing business and assisting with local expansions
- Advocating for improving the business environment in London
- Providing workforce development leadership to connect businesses with education institutes and employment sector agencies
- Marketing and promoting London for business opportunities in overseas markets
- Establishing business support partnerships throughout the community
- Developing strategic plans such as industrial lands strategy
Who can access LEDC’s services?
LEDC focuses on growing London’s primary economic sectors:
Growth in these sectors creates additional jobs through supply chains, service, and retail industries.
We invite you to contact us today to see if our services could help you.
What if I'm not in the above industries?
LEDC operates with a “no wrong door” approach. Regardless of your business stage or industry, when you contact LEDC we will always point you in the right direction and connect you to the most appropriate resources.
There are a range of local supports available to the following industries:
- Hospitality
- Tourism
- Restaurants / bars
- Retail
- Hair / nail salons
- Contractors / renovation
- Churches and faith-based organizations
- Early stage (pre-revenue) startups across sectors
- Other related industries
Businesses within these sectors are encouraged to work with the City of London, Tourism London, Downtown London, London Small Business Centre, local Business Improvement Areas (BIAs), and other local associations and organizations that directly support these sectors.
LEDC does support these industries in other ways. We are proud to promote news, events, or initiatives these industries share with us. We also make sure our clients and our team are aware of local products and service offerings, encouraging them to support local wherever possible.
How much do LEDC services cost?
LEDC’s services are free to businesses operating in our 5 key economic sectors.
Funding
Does LEDC have a membership/members?
No, the LEDC does not operate as a membership entity. Rather, we have clients (companies/businesses) and partners (organizations/support agencies).
How is the LEDC funded?
As an arms-length, private organization LEDC is funded through a purchase of service agreement with the City of London. We are a registered non-profit organization. The LEDC is governed by an independent board of directors, comprised of accomplished business and community leaders. The LEDC is a results based organization reporting regularly and openly on success metrics. In addition to board governance, LEDC submits audited financial statements to the Corporation of the City of London on an annual basis.
