Invest in the HUB Region

The Northeastern Alberta Information HUB Ltd, also known as “Alberta HUB”, is your connection to creating your first or next business success story. As the organization responsible for attracting and supporting local, national and foreign investment into the Alberta HUB region, we provide guidance and tools to businesses and site selectors making investment decisions.

Our Services Answer enquires on regional investment and economic development Provide access to industry, community and economic data Facilitate interactions with sector experts and all three levels of government Connect investors to qualified business and service professionals Business support services

Alberta HUB Alberta HUB strives to provide current/accurate information but it is subject to change. Phone: (780) 645-1155 Contact Alberta HUB for the latest information. www.albertahub.com Published: March 1, 2019 www.easternalbertatradecorridor.com Alberta HUB is the Regional Economic Development Easing Your Site Selection Decision Alliance of Northeast Alberta consisting of Communities, Business/Industry and Post-Secondary Educational In the Alberta HUB, we make it easy for you to assess and Institutions. Alberta HUB provides economic development select your next investment. We understand that your time support to its members and increases the awareness and money is valuable, so we have outlined key “need-to- of our region as the place to invest, grow and live. know” facts to address your top site selection priorities. Communities in the Alberta HUB region are eager to REGION QUICK FACTS attract investors through mutually-beneficial partnerships and new growth opportunities. Key reasons to invest in Total Population 134,330 our region include: Participation Rate 71% MARKET ACCESS Employment Rate 64% The Alberta HUB region is part of the Eastern Alberta Number of Businesses 4,184 Trade Corridor, which offers major North-South corridors Building Permit Value $3.1B Cumulative (4yr) / $6.5B (7yr) leading to the U.S. Ports of Entry and into Mexico. Major Major Project Investments $31Billion transportation systems open up access to major centres Industrial Land Prices Starting at $10,000/acre unserviced through to the East and West Coasts of extending Starting at $90,000/acre serviced into Asian markets. (subject to location) Leading Industries Energy | Agriculture | Manufacturing | WORLD CLASS TALENT Transportation | Tourism | Education & Applied Research The Alberta HUB region has a well-educated labour force, with a top-notch education system producing hundreds of Emerging Industries Aerospace & Defence | Unmanned Vehicle | Renewable Energy | graduates with higher qualification levels in many areas Cannabis | Industrial Hemp compared to the rest of the province. Based on most recent estimates from federal and locally gathered sources. QUALITY OF LIFE ACCESS TO MARKETS / TRANSPORTATION The Alberta HUB region is a very attractive place to live, The province of Alberta is optimally located to minimize market work and play. Our communities are safe and have a strong access costs related to transportation and distribution. Producers infrastructure in health care, utilities, telecommunications and and shippers in the province enjoy some of the lowest access transportation. There are also a variety of housing options, costs for both imports and exports in Western North America. modern amenities and countless recreational opportunities Roadway System to appeal to individuals and families. • Major East-West Corridors: COMPETITIVENESS ‒‒Highways 16 and 28 run through the region from the Enjoy lower land and transportation costs and one of the Saskatchewan border to . Highway 16 is part lowest overall tax systems in Canada, significantly reducing of the Yellowhead branch of the Trans-Canada Highway system that connects Western Canada to the strategic your costs of doing business in the Alberta HUB region. Benefit ports of Prince Rupert and Vancouver in British Columbia. from no taxes through partnerships with our First Nation and ‒‒ Highway 55 is coined the Northern Woods and Water Route. Métis settlements, where investment opportunities thrive. It meets with Highway 63 from Fort McMurray to Cold Lake INDUSTRY LEADER and connects Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and BC. Other East-West major corridors include Highways 45, 29 and 15. The strong Energy industry has brought prosperity to the region and created an explosion of support industry growth, • Major North-South high load corridors include High- opening up demand for countless investment opportunities. ways 41 and 36.

Alberta HUB Alberta HUB strives to provide current/accurate information but it is subject to change. Phone: (780) 645-1155 Contact Alberta HUB for the latest information. www.albertahub.com Published: March 1, 2019 www.easternalbertatradecorridor.com Airports Charter Cargo Runway DEMOGRAPHICS AND LABOUR FORCE Regional Airport 4,400 ft The Alberta HUB region’s population is estimated at 134,330 in Cold Lake Regional Airport 3,000 ft 2016 and is expected to increase to over 138,000 by 2018. Elk Point Airport 4,400 ft Airport 5,800 ft 2016 Population by Age Group Airport 5,579 ft St. Paul Airport 3,500 ft Total Estimate: 134,330 Two Hills Airport 2,900 ft Vegreville Airport 4,000 ft 15% 21% Vermilion Municipal Airport 3,300 ft UNDER 15 15-24 Air Service 26% 25-44 12% • Paved, local airports in the region offer charter and/or 45-64 cargo flights. 65 and Over • Close proximity to Edmonton and International 26% Airports offer daily flights to major Canadian, American, and international cities. Source: Rail The region boasts a high participation and employment rate • Two national rail carriers service the Alberta HUB region: compared to the rest of Canada. Canadian National (CN) and Canadian Pacific (CP) Rail- way. Both carriers have intermodal yards in Edmonton. Approximately 8,000 km of track in Alberta connect it to all Participation Rate (15+): 71% of Canada, North America and major ocean ports. is served by both carriers and CN runs a main track Employment Rate (15+): 64% East-West though Vegreville, Innisfree, Mannville, Vermilion and Kitscoty. CN’s main North-South track runs through and Lac La Biche County, connecting Alberta HUB region has a strong Aboriginal community and south in Edmonton and north in Fort McMurray. a growing, well-educated labour force. Investors can feel confident that the region is building its next generation of qualified, local talent. Here are some areas that Alberta HUB Closest Main graduates boast higher qualification levels then the rest U.S. Ports of Entry: of the province: • Apprenticeship or Trades • Coutts, Alberta / Sweetgrass, Montana • Architecture; engineering; and related technologies • Wild Horse Pass, Montana • Health; parks; recreation and fitness Commercial Shipping Ports • Education • Strategically located to two of Canada’s ocean ports, the Port of Vancouver and Port of Prince Rupert, for moving • Personal; protective and transportation services goods to the Pacific Rim. • Agriculture; natural resources and conservation

Alberta HUB Alberta HUB strives to provide current/accurate information but it is subject to change. Phone: (780) 645-1155 Contact Alberta HUB for the latest information. www.albertahub.com Published: March 1, 2019 www.easternalbertatradecorridor.com Alberta has one of the most competitive tax environments Leader in Applied Research in North America. It is the only province that does not have a Strong research facilities at Innotech Alberta (Vegreville), Lake- provincial retail sales tax and there are no provincial capital, land College (Vermilion and Lloydminster) and LARA (Lakeland payroll or manufacturing business taxes, which are common Agricultural Research Association) serving the M.D. of Bonny- in many other provinces and U.S. states. Alberta also has a ville, Counties of St. Paul, Smoky Lake, Lac La Biche and the refundable research and development tax credit and has a regional Agriculture sector. publicly funded health care insurance system. Lakeland College has proven research in Unmanned Systems In Alberta, the combined federal/provincial corporate and Agriculture. Home to largest student managed farm with applied research in livestock and crop production. income tax rates are up to 21% lower when compared to its neighbouring states in the U.S. The Alberta HUB region is a Home to only Pilot-Scale Decortication Facility in Alberta, North viable place to run your business operations with exporting America’s largest research and development facility used for Industrial Hemp Fibre manufacturing. Research leads to new opportunities via the region’s location within the Eastern Hemp and Cannabis investment. Alberta Trade Corridor.

ECONOMIC GROWTH INFRASTRUCTURE Key economic indicators prove the strength of the Alberta The Alberta HUB region has excellent infrastructure supporting HUB region as a thriving and viable place to invest and a positive business environment. All of our communities grow your business. are supported with utilities (electricity and/or natural gas), telecommunications, water supply and modern treated waste Major Projects Investments water systems. Investment into sector development is anticipated to AVAILABLE LAND remain very strong into the future as is shown in the over $31 Billion of active and proposed major projects within There is a wide choice of highly accessible and reasonably the Alberta HUB region. priced retail, commercial and industrial land available. When you choose to invest in the Alberta HUB region, our lower tax Building Permits system and land costs help you better manage your overall The Alberta HUB region has experienced record levels of business costs. Depending on size and location of the market investment since 2011 and continues with moderate growth within the region, the cost per acre of land starts at $10,000/Acre as investors see opportunities in the Alberta HUB region. (Unserviced) and $90,000/Acre (Serviced). For more information Investments in the oil/gas, agriculture, tourism and retail on land prices by location, call us at the Alberta HUB. sectors - just to name a few - continue to drive growth. COMPETITIVE TAX SYSTEM

Doing Business in Alberta Comparison of Corporate Income Tax for General Business

Source: Canada Revenue Agency, Alberta Economic Development and Trade, U.S. Tax Foundation, Federation of Tax Administrators Note: U.S. rates are for 2016; Canadian rates are for 2017

Alberta HUB Alberta HUB strives to provide current/accurate information but it is subject to change. Phone: (780) 645-1155 Contact Alberta HUB for the latest information. www.albertahub.com Published: March 1, 2019 www.easternalbertatradecorridor.com Industry Overviews Great employment and business opportunities are available in the Alberta HUB region. Below are highlights on a few of our region’s leading industries. For more information on these and other emerging industries within the region, visit www.albertahub.com.

Agriculture famous for the Giants of the Prairies, a series of roadside attractions. Numerous tourism The Alberta HUB region had total farm opportunities exist as the growing receipts close to $1.5 billion in 2016, account- population increases demand for ing for 37% of Alberta’s farm receipts. The recreational and hospitality services. 2016 census showed total acreage of 3 mil- lion in cultivated cropland, 12% of Alberta’s total cultivated acres. Alberta HUB is home Manufacturing to Highland Feeders, one of Canada’s largest The Alberta HUB region has a growing feedlot operations with a capacity for up to innovative manufacturing industry that 36,000 cattle. Lakeland College is one of the serves the oil, agriculture and other sectors. largest college-operated farms in Canada and This includes Ready to Move (RTM) homes, is located in Vermilion. Gas Field equipment, peat moss, agricultural implements, refuse containers and garments Energy for the oil and gas industry. The EMW Group, based in Two Hills, is an innovativemanufacturer The Alberta HUB region is located on the that can design and build bins and containers second largest oil sands deposit in Alberta to handle all of your general waste requirements. (Cold Lake Oil Sands Deposit) and overlaps Supply chain opportunities serving the Alberta into the largest, the HUB manufacturing sector are numerous and Deposit. There are $30 billion dollars’ worth excellent investment opportunities exist. of Oil & Gas projects planned and operating in the region. There are over 300 oil and gas producing companies and 1,000 oil service Transportation companies located within the region. Many The Alberta HUB region is a transportation technologies have been developed in the HUB with its intricate highway and rail system Alberta HUB with the most notable being and regional airports. Alberta is optimally Progressing Cavity Pumps (PCP), which can located to minimize market access costs tolerate large amounts of sand and viscous related to transportation and distribution. oil. Numerous employment and business Producers and shippers in the province enjoy opportunities exist as the growth in this some of the lowest access costs for both sector continues to create a great demand for imports and exports in Western North America. housing, retail and professional services. Education & Applied Research Tourism The Alberta HUB region offers excellence and Tourism is prominent in the region with more dedication to learning and development than 150 lakes and one of the largest inland through its three prominent Colleges, marinas in Canada at Cold Lake. The Alberta Lakeland, Portage and Blue Quills, which HUB region mirrors the Tourism area known are spread out across 10 campus locations as Alberta’s Lakeland (www.albertaslakeland. in the region. In addition to producing ca) and is complimented by Kalyna Country qualified graduates with high-demand, (www.kalynacountry.com). The region is rich ready to use, career skill sets, the Lakeland in history and cultural diversity and is also and Portage Colleges are pursuing applied

Alberta HUB Alberta HUB strives to provide current/accurate information but it is subject to change. Phone: (780) 645-1155 Contact Alberta HUB for the latest information. www.albertahub.com Published: March 1, 2019 www.easternalbertatradecorridor.com research and innovation opportunities that Aerospace & Defence enhance learning and support regional economic development. The focus of applied An established and growing Aerospace research is primarily in the agriculture, and Defence industry exists around the emergency services, energy, environment, Canadian Forces Base Cold Lake (4-Wing). manufacturing, and food services sectors. It is the largest and busiest Air Force Fighter For more information on the Colleges visit Base in Canada. Cold Lake’s Air Weapons their websites at: lakelandcollege.ca, Range is a world class training ground for military aircraft and used by a number of portagecollege.ca, and bluequills.ca. allied countries. InnoTech Alberta is in demand for many reasons: comprehensive facilities, capability to develop new methods, professional highly trained staff, and strong connections with industry. InnoTech has been approached by marijuana growers to use the controlled environment facility in Vegreville for experiments on crop management.

Business Support - We have you covered. As an investor and business owner, you can feel confident that support services are ready to guide you through starting and successful operating a business within the Alberta HUB region. For a complete service list, visit albertahub.com. Northeast Alberta Information HUB - albertahub.com Community Futures Alberta - albertacf.com Alberta Small Business Resources - smallbusiness.alberta.ca The Business Link - canadabusiness.ab.ca BizPal - .ca Alberta Economic Dashboard - economicdashboard.albertacanada.com

Northeast Alberta Information HUB Ltd. 5015 49 Avenue St. Paul, AB. T0A 3A4 Ph: (780) 645-1155 Email: [email protected] www.albertahub.com