August 22, 2000

Human Resources Development Canada

Dear Sir/Madam:

On behalf of the Windsor & District Chamber of Commerce, I wish to express our support for St. Clair College’s funding request for their Export Development Initiative.

The Windsor & District Chamber of Commerce represents over 1,350 business members who collectively employ over 80,000 people in the Windsor and Essex County area. With a mandate of fostering an environment that allows Windsor and Essex County business to prosper and compete, it is logical to support this funding request application on behalf of St. Clair College. Their objective, to foster business growth and development by promoting exporting to the owners of small- and medium-sized enterprises, parallels one of our own ongoing objectives for our membership.

We have no doubt that approval for sufficient funding to hire one full-time export advisor and one half-time project supervisor will result in St. Clair College’s increased ability to offer our members a means by which to encourage the promotion of Canadian exports of goods and services and to expand the base of export-ready businesses in the area.

As a further endorsement of this initiative, I would like to extend the Chamber’s support by offering a Chamber representative to serve in an advisory position on the Local Advisory Board for Export Development.

St. Clair College’s Export Development Initiative will have a major impact on the future of business growth and development. We ask that you give serious consideration to their request for funding.

Sincerely,