Press Release: Site Selection’s Top Utilities in Economic Development

Atlanta, September 8, 2011: Ontario is the most competitive province in a competitive nation, followed by Québec and Alberta. Toronto, Hamilton, Québec City and Montréal lead Canada’s metro areas in corporate facility development. And the business attraction and retention strategies of the nation’s Top 10 economic development groups (see list below) continue to help foster corporate facility growth in a lean era.

Those are the conclusions reached as Site Selection publishes its fourth annual Canada Best to Invest awards and rankings, based on June 2010-May 2011 project data derived from the publication’s proprietary New Plant Database (which counts projects according to specific criteria related to new construction) and the magazine’s own research. The rankings include:

• The Canadian Competitiveness Awards, awarded to the leading provinces based on data derived from qualifying new corporate facilities and expansions;
• Top Canadian Groups, recognizing local economic development groups based on project data, regional partnership, proactive and innovative programming, and quality data and Web tools and resources;
• Top Canadian Metros, based on a tally of new corporate projects and expansions.

“What continues to distinguish Canada as a whole and successful Canadian communities in particular are openness to global firms and global talent, and an increasingly friendly operating environment for industry,” says Adam Bruns, managing editor of Site Selection. “As business advisor Tom Faranda told an audience of industrial asset management executives earlier this year in extolling Canada’s many virtues, ‘Sometimes the best thing in your life is right next door.’ ”

The entire Canada Best to Invest 2011 report, including an economic development directory, appears in the September 2011 edition of Site Selection and online at www.siteselection.com.

“We make sure Canada is covered in every issue of Site Selection, from provincial and Canada-U.S. border updates to coverage of new projects in our industry reports,” says Mark Arend, editor in chief of Site Selection. “The annual Canada Best to Invest feature sheds additional light on Canada’s many location options for corporate site selectors. We salute the provinces and communities that made this year’s rankings.”

Also featured in the issue:

• In-depth reports on energy innovations, infrastructure, logistics, and plastics & chemicals;
• The magazine’s annual ranking of Top Utilities in Economic Development;
• A California spotlight featuring an exclusive interview with Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom; and other state spotlights on Texas, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Nevada, Massachusetts and the Dakotas;
• International spotlights on India, Northern Ireland and Malaysia;
• Area reports on the U.S. Mid-Atlantic, Southeast and Upper Midwest regions that explore, among other topics, the return of manufacturing to the U.S. from abroad;
• Investment Profiles of Malaysia, Greater Philadelphia, Saxony-Anhalt and utilities Ameren and Progress Energy.

Site Selection magazine, published by Conway Data Inc., delivers expansion planning information to 44,000 executives of fast-growing firms. The senior publication in the development field, Site Selection is also available via Site Selection Online (www.siteselection.com). The SiteNet Dispatch, a weekly e-mail newsletter, is delivered to approximately 44,000 industry professionals. The publication also publishes the “Site Selection Energy Report” and “Site Selection Life Sciences Report” monthly e-newsletters. Conway Data is an international publishing and association management company headquartered in Atlanta. The firm manages the Industrial Asset Management Council, the Development Hall of Fame and the World Development Federation (WDF), offers consulting services and awards the Conway Safe Skies Award.

Canadian Competitiveness Rankings

1. Ontario (Ontario Ministry of Economic Development and Trade)
2. Québec (Invest Québec)
3. Alberta (Alberta Ministry of Finance & Enterprise)

Top Canadian Economic Development Groups (in alphabetical order)

Canada’s Technology Triangle
Edmonton Economic Development Corp.
Greater Halifax Partnership
City of Hamilton – Economic Development & Real Estate Division
London Economic Development Corp.
City of Mississauga Economic Development Office
Montréal International
Québec International
Regina Regional Opportunities Commission
Windsor Essex Economic Development Corp.

Top Canadian Metros
These areas were tops in corporate facility projects from June 2010-May 2011, according to the qualifying criteria of the Conway Data New Plant Database (at least $1 million invested, at least 50 new jobs created, or at least 20,000 new sq. ft.):

Metro area Project Count

1. Toronto, Ontario    61
2. Hamilton, Ontario    21
3. Quebec City, Québec    17
3. Montréal, Québec    17
5. Windsor, Ontario    8
5. London, Ontario    8

source: Conway Data New Plant Database