NOURISHING FBP SUCCESS IN HALTON HILLS:
Strategically located on the west-side of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), the Town of Halton Hills is situated in the midst of one of the largest and most diverse food and beverage processing (FBP) clusters in North America. The province of Ontario’s FBP sector is the largest in Canada, and the third largest in North America.
Halton Hills is located within the larger Halton Region of Ontario – a Region that is home to approximately 1,700 firms and 33,000 workers that support Ontario’s growing FBP cluster. Halton Hills enjoys a diverse and concentrated base of FBP firms that take advantage of exceptional market access, a highly skilled workforce and over 20 world-class research and educational facilities located within an hour’s drive – several of which offer specialized FBP training institutes that can serve as strategic partners and provide advice and funding to support the growth of the FBP sector.
A GATEWAY TO NORTH AMERICA’S THRIVING FOOD AND BEVERAGE PROCESSING HUB…
Halton Hills continues to retain and attract leading FBP companies poised take advantage of the Town’s strong strategic position, ‘open for business’ approach, and easy access to the North American market.
The Town is closely integrated with the GTA economy and labour pool, situated directly along Canada’s Innovation Corridor that runs from Toronto to Kitchener-Waterloo. Halton Hills is also approximately 40 minutes from Toronto’s Pearson International Airport, offering daily flights to major U.S. destinations. Local firms also benefit from proximity to the ports of both Toronto and Hamilton for water access.
Halton Hills is an attractive location for both multinational companies and SMEs operating in the FBP sector due to:
- Lower cost of doing business relative to the U.S.
- Proximity to a North American market worth an estimated $17 trillion USD, with 450 million customers
- Access to a local highly-educated, diverse and skilled workforce
- Easy access to ingredients
- A stable and favourable business and political environment
- An efficient supply chain system and logistics network
These advantages, combined with a strong and diverse urban core, proximity to agricultural production and an existing base of innovation, have led to the development of a significant FBP cluster in Halton Hills that includes well-known multinational companies as well as SMEs. The Town’s third, fourth and fifth largest employers are all in the FBP sector:
Where Urban Dynamism Meets Rural Charm for FBP Success
The Town of Halton Hills is the perfect backdrop for international firms seeking access to major markets, a stable and competitive business environment, and unsurpassed quality of life. Given the Halton Hills’ size, Economic Development staff regularly interface with employers while providing a high level of customer service. Staff take pride in maintaining strong relationships and take aftercare seriously. The Town’s investment value proposition appeals most to international firms that understand the inherent benefits of locating within a similar-sized community.
With a unique mix of both urban and rural features, Halton Hills maintains a “small-town feel” despite its central location and proximity to Toronto. The Town strikes the perfect balance between urban and rural living – and is known for a superior quality of life that attracts employers, families and a highly skilled workforce. Furthermore, Halton Region has consistently been rated as the safest community in Canada for 10 years.
THE ROAD TO DOING BUSINESS HERE…
Halton Hills is a cost-competitive and business-friendly community with a growing and vibrant multi-sector economy. With a local GDP of $2.95 billion, the Town is home to over 64,000 residents and over 2,000 businesses that provide approximately 25,000 local jobs.
Halton Hills’ Premier Gateway Industrial Area is located along Ontario’s major provincial highway network and will account for over 90 percent of the Town’s forecasted employment growth for the next 20 years. There will be over 15 million square feet of developable, designated employment lands coming online in the Premier Gateway over the next five years – a rare opportunity in the GTA.
To realize key strategic investments and ensure smooth communications through a single point of contact, Halton Hills launched a Business Concierge program in 2021. The Business Concierge program operates with a “can-do” approach and provides customized white-glove service to help fast-track approvals of development projects and streamline the processing of major investment opportunities.
Halton Hills is investing to create and support a thriving economy, attract quality jobs, increase housing supply and build a community that is an ideal place to live, work, play and invest.
The lifestyle, pace and diversity of Halton Hills never fail to impress first-time visitors. With three Conservation Areas, over 30 parks, an exceptional network of trails for hiking and cycling, and a rich arts and culture sector, Halton Hills is one of the best places to invest, and live, in Canada.
For more information visit: www.investhaltonhills.com
