2015 and Beyond...... The coming year stands to be a good year for Brockville. The industrial plants in the city that export to the US market are getting a boost from a Low Canadian Dollar, dropping oil and shipping costs, and a strong US economy. As these same factors affect the Ontario economy the companies that sell product domestically stand to do better as well. We still have the bugaboo of high electricity costs which is mitigated somewhat by low Natural gas costs and the potential for localized power generation on some plant sites as well as low Business Taxes ( provincial and federal combined amongst lowest in North America and local industrial property taxes (mid range) combined with low industrial land cost means extremely competitive property taxes) as well as extremely low water and sewer costs for industry. The City continues to invest in Build-Ready industrial property and the land we have already invested in and prepped is being developed as a drive through the North End industrial park will show. So we will keep investing in Industry and we will invest in other market segments to ensure we develop a diversified local market - this includes investments in our Tourism Product and Marketing ( Aquarium, Tunnel, Sports Facilities, Arts Centre, Waterfront), residential attraction ( solid infrastructure, amenities, and services), Institutional segment ( support for our Hospital , College) . An important note here is our need to more strongly, agressively,....whatever wording fits, go after the residential relocation market - we have long identified that people like to retire to Brockville because we offer so many advantages and yet we have been reluctant to intentionally market to retirees for fear of the backlash in the community from people who do not want to be labelled as a Retirement Community. this is unfortunate, as retirees are a significant market segment that want to buy our product and doing enhances what our community can offer to younger families ( retirees buy houses from realtors, services from lawyers, accountants, financial advisors, contractors, groundskeepers, stores, dog groomers. They eat at restaurants, attend concerts, golf, learn music, buy cars, get cars repaired, ride the train, volunteer for charities, donate to groups.......the list is extensive and overtime they buy a service a local company, a local employee, a local owner, benefits and in turn their suppliers benefit....and on and on...and it does not hurt our other segments ( tourism, professionals, commercial, industrial...) actually, these sectors all benefit from a strong influx of retirees - as even industries benefit from higher concentrations of labour / capital / market / services - retirees benefit labour by developing service industries, as an example - developing greater mass in turn develops greater oppourtuniy -
Posted on: Sat, 03 Jan 2015 20:41:07 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015