Halton Region again among best places to invest, says business magazine

An increase in film and TV production and over $2.8 billion in approved development have helped make Halton Region and its area municipalities among the best places to do business in Canada.

For the sixth straight year, the region consisting of Burlington, Oakville, Milton and Halton Hills has been listed by Site Selection Magazine among the top 20 regions of Canada’s Best Locations to invest.

The Region’s 2023 economic review noted 3,300 new jobs created, total building permit construction value of $2.8 billion approved for development, and 2.4 million sq. ft. of industrial development with building permits issued.

“Halton Region is one of the fastest growing communities in the country and creating more housing options is a top priority,” said Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr.

This year’s Competitiveness Awards and Canada’s Best Locations honour the top 20 regional or metro economic development organizations and their constituent communities.

This “elite group” is determined by examining total corporate facility projects and their associated capital investment and job creation numbers over a period from June 2023 through May 2024.

The projects qualified for Site Selection’s Conway Projects Database (at least $1 million invested, at least 20 new jobs created or at least 20,000 new sq. ft. of space) are evaluated on both a cumulative and per-capita basis.

“The project data across such sectors as green technology, electric vehicles, energy and batteries,” says Adam Bruns, editor in chief of Site Selection, “shows a country long known for its natural resources naturally evolving to leadership in clean tech and beyond.”

Christine Carrington, Economic Development Program Manager of Invest Halton notes recent projects in the region include Dana Canada (Oakville), Olymel (Oakville), Musket Equipment Leasing (Burlington), Kioti Contracting (Milton), Conestoga Cold Storage (Halton Hills), and Snuggle Bugz (Oakville).

Prominent in Halton Region’s profile are the economic development accomplishments in Oakville and Burlington.

“Rebeka Diec Stormes, director of Invest Oakville, reports that film and TV production is taking off in the municipality and industrial development activity recently reached a record high of over 2 million sq. ft. of total development and $175 million in construction value,” wrote Site Selection Magazine.

Site Selection Magazine, in its 71^st year of publication, covers global corporate real estate strategy and economic development.