In this episode of the Hyper Local EDCO Awards Series: A Deep Dive, host Mason Ainsworth explores Interprovincial Export Circles, the winning project from the 2025 EDCO Bright Ideas Competition. With Sushmitha Thirumalaivasan (Downtown Development Officer, City of Kitchener), Lauren (Cutler) McEachern (Senior Economic Development Officer, City of Vaughan), and Jessica Rhynas (Rural Economic Development Specialist, Invest Durham). They explain their practical, peer-led model designed to help Ontario SMEs better understand and overcome the challenges of doing business across provincial borders.

The conversation dives into the problem the team set out to solve, the research and stakeholder engagement that shaped the final model, and how Interprovincial Export Circles uses a cohort-based approach to bring businesses together to learn from one another, navigate interprovincial trade barriers, and identify new opportunities across Canada.

We also go behind the scenes of the EDCO Bright Ideas Competition itself: from forming a team and selecting a topic to conducting the research, developing the report, and presenting the final idea. The episode explores what worked, the challenges encountered along the way, lessons for future Bright Ideas participants, and what winning the 2025 competition has meant for the team and the project.

Most importantly, the team has developed a ready-to-run toolkit and framework that economic development offices, chambers of commerce, and regional organizations can adapt to launch their own Interprovincial Export Circles. We discuss what it would take to pilot the model, where it could go next, and the opportunity to scale the approach across Ontario and beyond.

Whether you work in economic development, business retention and expansion, trade, entrepreneurship, or small business support, this episode offers practical ideas for helping local companies look beyond provincial borders and a great example of how research through EDCO Bright Ideas can turn into something communities can actually use.

This series was made in partnership with the Economic Developers Council of Ontario (EDCO). Thank you to the incredible staff and the Board of Directors for making this series possible.

Thank you to our Series Sponsor:

A special thank you to Peacock Tariff Consulting for sponsoring the Hyper Local EDCO Awards Series. With deep expertise in tariff strategy, customs compliance, and international trade, Peacock Tariff Consulting helps businesses navigate complex global trade challenges with clarity and confidence. We’re grateful for their support of conversations that strengthen Ontario’s economic development community.

Learn more at peacocktariffconsulting.com.

Thank you to our Podcast Partner, Michelle Samson of Storied Places Media.

Storied Places Media specializes in producing audio and video podcasts for economic development organizations. It's long-form content that busy people will actually consume. They can support your vision or take care of the whole process: hosting, interviewing, editing, and distribution on all major streaming platforms. They also advise on strategy and promotion to help it reach as much of your audience as possible.

Learn more at storiedplaces.ca

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