Invest in the Alberta 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 • Complimentary business support services Alberta HUB Partners: Phone: (780) 645-1155 www.albertahub.com www.portstoplains.com 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 135,000 our region include: Participation Rate 80% MARKET ACCESS Employment Rate 76% The Alberta HUB region is part of the Eastern Alberta Number of Businesses 5,400 Trade Corridor, which offers major North-South corridors Building Permit Value $1.5Billion; 670% growth over 3 years leading to the U.S. Ports of Entry and down into Mexico. Major transportation systems open up access to major centres Major Project Investments $31Billion through to the East and West Coasts of Canada extending Industrial Land Prices Range from $10,000 - $90,000/Acre into Asian markets. Unserviced Range from $90,000 - $225,000/Acre Serviced WORLD CLASS TALENT Leading Industries Energy | Agriculture | Manufacturing | The Alberta HUB region has a well-educated labour force, Transportation | Tourism | Education with a top-notch education system producing hundreds of & Applied Research graduates with higher qualification levels in many areas Emerging Industries Aerospace & Defence | Retail | compared to the rest of the province. Hospitality | Forestry 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, work and play. Our communities are safe and have a strong The province of Alberta is optimally located to minimize market 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 to appeal to individuals and families. Roadway System • 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 Edmonton. Highway 16 is part lowest overall tax systems in Canada, significantly reducing of the Yellowhead branch of the Trans-Canada Highway your costs of doing business in the Alberta HUB region. Benefit system that connects Western Canada to the strategic from no taxes through partnerships with our First Nation and ports of Prince Rupert and Vancouver in British Columbia. Métis settlements, where investment opportunities thrive. ‒ Highway 55 is coined the Northern Woods and Water Route. It meets with Highway 63 from Fort McMurray to Cold Lake INDUSTRY LEADER and connects Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and BC. The strong Energy industry has brought prosperity to the Other East-West major corridors include Highways 45, 29 and 15. region and created an explosion of support industry growth, • Major North-South high load corridors include Highways 41 opening up demand for countless investment opportunities. and 36. Alberta HUB Partners: Phone: (780) 645-1155 www.albertahub.com www.portstoplains.com www.easternalbertatradecorridor.com Airports Charter Cargo Runway DEMOGRAPHICS AND LABOUR FORCE Bonnyville Regional Airport 4,400 ft The Alberta HUB region’s population is estimated at 135,000 in 2014 and is expected to increase to over 146,000 by 2016. Cold Lake Regional Airport 3,000 ft Elk Point Airport 4,400 ft Lac La Biche Airport 5,800 ft 2014 Population by Age Group St. Paul Airport 3,500 ft Total Estimate: 135,000 Two Hills Airport 2,900 ft Vegreville Airport 4,000 ft Vermilion Municipal Airport 3,300 ft 12% 22% UNDER 15 Air Service 15-24 • Paved, local airports in the region offer charter and/or 26% 25-44 14% cargo flights. 45-64 • Close proximity to Edmonton and Calgary International OVER 64 Airports offer daily flights to major Canadian, American, 26% and international cities. Rail Source: 2014 population is derived from population growth trends and immigration projections. • Two national rail carriers service the Alberta HUB region: Canadian National (CN) and Canadian Pacific (CP) Railway. The region boasts a high participation and employment rate Both carriers have intermodal yards in the city of Edmonton. compared to the rest of Canada. Approximately 8,000 km of track in the province of Alberta connect it to all of Canada, North America and major ocean ports. Lamont County is served by both carriers and CN runs a main track East-West though Vegreville, Innisfree, Participation Rate (15+): 80% Mannville, Vermilion and Kitscoty. CN’s main North-South Employment Rate (15+): 76% track runs through Lac La Biche County. The Alberta HUB region has a well-educated labour force. Closest Main Investors can feel confident that the region is building its next U.S. Ports of Entry: generation of qualified, local talent. Here are some areas that Alberta HUB graduates boast higher qualification levels then • Coutts, Alberta / Sweetgrass, Montana the rest of the province: • Wild Horse Pass, Montana • Apprenticeship or Trades • Architecture; engineering; and related technologies • 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 Partners: Phone: (780) 645-1155 www.albertahub.com www.portstoplains.com www.easternalbertatradecorridor.com Alberta has one of the most competitive tax environments Recruitment Hot Spots in North America. It is the only province that does not have a provincial retail sales tax and there are no provincial capital, Two Hills region population grew approx. 40% over 13 payroll or manufacturing business taxes, which are common years due to growth in the Mennonite community, in many other provinces and U.S. states. Alberta also has a whom can offer both skilled and unskilled labour. refundable research and development tax credit and has a The Cold Lake area has a large skilled labour force in publicly funded health care insurance system. the aerospace sector, including many retired military In Alberta, the combined federal/provincial corporate engineers and maintenance personnel. income tax rates are up to 21% lower when compared to its Alberta HUB region has a strong Aboriginal community neighbouring states in the U.S. The Alberta HUB region is a with a growing, educated labour force. viable place to run your business operations with exporting opportunities via the region’s location within the Eastern Alberta Trade Corridor. INFRASTRUCTURE The Alberta HUB region has excellent infrastructure supporting ECONOMIC GROWTH a positive business environment. All of our communities Key economic indicators prove the strength of the Alberta are supported with utilities (electricity and/or natural gas), HUB region as a thriving and viable place to invest and telecommunications, water supply and modern treated waste grow your business. water systems. Major Projects Investments AVAILABLE LAND Investment into sector development is anticipated to There is a wide choice of highly accessible and reasonably remain very strong into the future as is shown in the over priced retail, commercial and industrial land available. When $31 Billion of active and proposed major projects within you choose to invest in the Alberta HUB region, our lower tax the Alberta HUB region. system and land costs help you better manage your overall business costs. Depending on size and location of the mar- Building Permits ket within the region, the cost per acre of land ranges from The Alberta HUB region’s thriving investment community is $10,000 - $90,000/Acre (Unserviced) and $90,000 - $225,000/ driving strong business development and resulting new Acre (Serviced). For more information on land prices by construction. This is represented in the growing number of location, call us at the Alberta HUB. new building permits, of which the value has grown by