Contact: 6625 The Corners Parkway, Suite 200
Press Release
Site Selection Names Canada’s Best Locations and 2016’s Top US Utilities in Economic Development
Atlanta, September 5, 2017: Ontario is the most competitive province in a competitive nation, followed by a resurgent Alberta and Québec. And metro areas from Greater Toronto and Montréal to Waterloo, Saskatoon and Vancouver head Site Selection’s annual list of top Canadian economic development groups (see full list below). Those are the conclusions reached as Site Selection publishes in its new September issue its annual Canada’s Best Locations awards and rankings, based on April 2016-March 2017 corporate end-user facility investment and job creation data derived from the publication’s proprietary Conway Projects Database and the magazine’s own research. The Canadian Competitiveness Award, this year awarded to the Ontario Investment Office, goes to the leading province based on data derived from qualifying new corporate facilities and expansions. The Top Canadian Groups are local or regional economic development groups ranked based on project data, regional partnership, proactive and innovative programming, and quality data and Web tools and resources. With NAFTA renegotiation looming, Canada’s Ambassador to the US David MacNaughton tells Site Selection, “Ninety percent of the trade between us goes on without a hiccup.” As for the 10 percent that he calls “irritants,” he says, “we need to figure out how to sort those out and expand trade, not curtail it.” The real opportunity “is to figure out how North American companies can become more globally competitive” and take on the world. One way is via the clusters of opportunity found in Canadian places large and small: life sciences in downtown Toronto, cybersecurity in Fredericton, ICT in Ottawa, AI in Winnipeg. “People are finding that there are pockets across the country where surprising things are happening,” he says, thanks to the nation’s richest natural resource: human talent. Not only is Ontario leading the way, its regions and municipalities are too: Half of the 10 Top Canadian Groups (and six of the 10 Honorable Mentions) hail from the province. The Canada’s Best Locations 2017 report includes a Canadian economic development directory, and is posted at www.siteselection.com. “The annual Canada’s Best Locations feature sheds additional light on Canada’s many location options for corporate site selectors,” says Mark Arend, editor in chief of Site Selection. “We salute the provinces and communities that made this year’s rankings.” Top Utilities in Economic Development “This year’s Top Utilities excel at enhancing corporate location decision-making with business intelligence, teamwork and service,” says Managing Editor Adam Bruns of the rankings Site Selection has published since 1999. “Utilities play a key role as participants in the economic development efforts of cities, regions and all areas working to improve their local business climate,” says Editor-in-Chief Mark Arend. “This year’s Top Utilities were particularly successful in this endeavor in 2016.” In addition to an array of state and regional spotlights, industry reports and Investment Profiles, the new issue of Site Selection includes an exclusive report on the $10-billion Foxconn deal in Wisconsin; the magazine’s annual Infrastructure Report (with exclusive analysis by Fluor); insights into rural workforce qualifications; and international reporting on territories including the UK and Malaysia. Site Selection magazine, published by Conway Inc., delivers expansion planning information to 45,000 executives of fast-growing firms. The senior publication in the development field, Site Selection and its affiliated e-newsletters are also available via Site Selection Online. Headquartered in Atlanta, Ga., Conway since 1954 has been a trusted advisor to corporations, government economic development and investment promotion agencies around the world. Conway owns and manages Conway Events; Berlin-based FDI consultancy Conway Advisory; and New York-based Conway PR & Marketing. Conway also manages the Industrial Asset Management Council. Conway also operates a Custom Publishing Division, and employs over 80 people in 10 offices in seven countries. 2017 Canadian Competitiveness Rankings 2017 Canada’s Best Locations (alphabetical order) 2017 Canada’s Best Locations Honorable Mention 2017 Top Utilities In Economic Development (alphabetical order) 2017 Honorable Mention Utilities In Economic Development |
Press Release