Attracting investment and creating jobs: Durham launches initiative to pre-service employment lands

Whitby, Ontario – Yesterday, for the first time since the formation of Durham Region in 1974, Regional Council approved a comprehensive set of recommendations to prioritize numerous high-value water and sewer infrastructure projects designed to increase the Region’s supply of market-ready employment lands. Increasing the supply of pre-serviced employment lands in Durham will help to attract new investment, create jobs and accelerate economic growth.

Remaining competitive is essential for economic growth and job creation, especially through this period of economic recovery. There has been extremely strong demand for industrial land in Durham, yet it is becoming more difficult to find pre-serviced sites for new investment.

In 2019, the Durham Region Competitiveness Study found that the availability of market-ready land is a key factor that influences Durham’s competitiveness to attract investors. As a result, the Regional Pre-Servicing of Designated Employment Areas Report was initiated to identify an inventory of available employment lands in Durham that are not currently being developed—partly due to lack of services such as water, sewer, natural gas, or electricity. The report noted that the Region should take steps to advance certain water and sewer infrastructure projects, to increase the supply of market-ready lands.

Durham Region, the eastern anchor of the Greater Toronto Area, offers access to more than 135 million consumers within a day's drive—making Durham a great place to live, work, grow and invest. According to the Durham Region Competitiveness Study, factors that influence Durham’s relative competitiveness to attract investment when compared to its peers include:

• Availability of market-ready lands
• Development and operation costs
• Labour force
• Post-secondary institutions
• Proximity to market and transportation infrastructure
• Quality of life

Durham has an exceptionally strong value proposition in each of these areas, and needs to continue to ensure a long-term supply of market-ready lands to enable investment and job growth. The projects reviewed by Council today will take years to move through the approvals, design and construction phases. Each project will require additional budget approvals by Council in future years, however, the approved recommendations are the first step in creating a new supply of these much-needed market-ready lands.

To learn more about economic development in Durham Region, visit InvestDurham.ca.

Quotes

“This is a positive step forward for Durham Region. By creating a strategy to pre-service these otherwise vacant industrial lands, we’re positioning Durham as market-ready; a label that will attract new investments and create jobs close to home. Not only will this make us a more competitive contender, but it will ensure that Durham Region remains a great place to live, work, grow and invest.”

- John Henry, Regional Chair and CEO, Region of Durham

“Regional Council has taken a major step in setting up the Region to attract new commercial and industrial investment in the years to come. This long-term infrastructure planning is critical to ensuring our continued competitiveness, and our ability to enable job creation.”

- Simon Gill, Director of Economic Development and Tourism, Region of Durham

“Many factors influence the attractiveness of employment areas for investment. Municipal water, sanitary sewer, access to roads, highways and transit services, storm sewers, electricity, natural gas, and telecommunication services are major factors considered by end-users. By taking action to pre-service vacant employment lands, Durham will be well-positioned to welcome new investment and jobs.”

- Gary Muller, Director of Planning, Region of Durham

Quick Facts

• This project is in support of the 2017-2021 Durham Region Economic Development Strategy and Action Plan.
• The Durham Region Competitiveness Study (February 2019) found that local market competitiveness is influenced by factors, such as development costs (e.g. land costs, construction costs), operating costs (e.g. property taxes, utility costs), proximity and access to major transportation infrastructure, the local labour force, access to post-secondary institutions, availability of developable land, and quality of life.
• Preliminary criteria to prioritize pre-servicing of employment land projects was approved by Regional Council in September 2019.
• Priority employment areas were identified by Economic Development representatives from the region’s eight local area municipalities and reviewed by Regional Council in November 2019.
• The Region’s Long-term Financial Planning Framework established two separate reserve funds in support of the development of employment lands, including the Servicing of Employment Lands Reserve Fund ($19.4 million) and the Economic Development Reserve Fund ($3.8 million). These funds were approved by Regional Council to work in unison to support the construction of Regional infrastructure necessary to service new employment lands and the economic development strategic activities required to promote market-ready employment lands (i.e. existing and future inventory).

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For more information, please contact Corporate Communications.