Village of Nobleford ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY PROFILE Village of Nobleford: Economic Development Community Profile 1 Welcome to the Village of Nobleford Nobleford is a modern vibrant growing community near the Canadian Rockies. Nobleford maintains quality city‐like infrastructure such as paved streets and concrete sidewalks complimented by a 2 km long paved walking path that wanders through its parks, recreation facilities, natural environments and numerous interpretive sites. In 2003, The Village of Nobleford was recognized as a pleasant, comfortable Village to live in but was facing sustainability issues. Property taxes were on the rise and there was a stagnant population of 615, and generally negative growth issues. The Village, economy and business growth, along with jobs in Nobleford were on the decline. Since 2003, Nobleford has doubled its population, geographic size, and has successfully self‐developed and sold over 200 new residential properties. With two manufacturers, one of which has expanded for the oil industry ‐ building large tanks, and many other businesses locating in Nobleford, the employed workforce is 300. Nobleford owns and operates a high quality water treatment facility and also provides water to regional pipelines. Nobleford property taxes have been consistently reduced annually to nearly half of 2005 levels, while maintaining healthy financial reserves, infrastructure and service. In a 2014 municipal spending report, the Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses rated Nobleford as the second most sustainable municipality in Alberta. Road Travel Distances Distance Nobleford To: Kilometers Miles Fort Macleod 40 25 Lethbridge 34 21 US border at Coutts 140 87 Taber 85 53 Medicine Hat 202 126 Calgary 185 115 Edmonton 475 295 Climate Nobleford has a moderate climate with warm summers. Winters are cool but are moderated by warm Chinook winds blowing from the west coast. Average: J F M A M J J A S O N D Temperature oC -6.0 -4.2 -0.1 6.0 11.1 15.2 18.2 17.7 12.6 6.6 -1.2 -5.4 High temperature 0.1 2.3 6.4 13.1 18.3 22.0 26.1 26.0 20.2 13.7 4.8 0.6 Low temperature -12.1 -10.6 -6.5 -1.1 3.9 8.3 10.3 9.5 4.9 -0.6 -7.2 -11.4 Precipitation (mm) 13.5 12.0 22.8 28.0 49.9 82.0 42.6 37.3 41.4 20.1 17.8 12.9 Through successful investment and business attraction, Nobleford is now a modern sustainable community. Village of Nobleford: Economic Development Community Profile 2 Key Demographics Village of SouthGrow Nobleford has Population Demographics (2011) Nobleford Region proactively self‐ Population 1,000 158,282 developed new Annual population growth rate (2001-11 trend) 6.4% 2.0% residential Median age 28.5 38.3 neighbourhoods to Workforce population (age 15-64) 590 93,380 School population (age 5-17) 235 26,290 foster the strong Senior Population (age 65+) 105 26,440 population growth Average employment income $44,707 $52,819 that is occurring Average family income $73,595 $87,602 along with its Number of dwellings 375 61,566 industrial growth. Economic Indicators A major employer in Nobleford from the 1930s to 1998 was a cultivator factory established by Charles Noble, manufacturing variations of the Noble blade. With this history rooted in agricultural implement manufacturing, Nobleford has built on this to attract and sustain new agricultural manufacturing and service related businesses in the immediate region. The newest investment in the works for Nobleford is the King Street Retail Complex shown below: Recent Investments and Projects Project Description Manufacturing In 2010 Ag Growth International invested $5.4 million addition to their facility. In 2011 Richardson Pioneer built a new $2.4 million fertilizer blending plant and office. Agriculture Related Commercial development along adjacent Highway 519 continues to grow. $1.7 million expansion on the Christian Reformed Church. Other $8 million modernization of Noble Central (K-12) School. Plans are being developed for a new retail and commercial centre on King Street consisting of a grocery Retail store, restaurant, other retail and office space. Since 2006 Nobleford has developed 5 residential subdivisions comprising of 220 lots. Residential Since 2011 Nobleford has self-developed an industrial subdivision with 24 lots in 1 to 3 acre sizes. Developments Private development adjacent to Nobleford has seen strong growth in the past 5 years. Outlook Acres, just outside of Nobleford offers country living with urban services. Recreation Spray park, Walking paths, Skateboard Park Village of Nobleford: Economic Development Community Profile 3 Local Businesses and Major Employers Sector Businesses Ag Growth Industries Manufacturing Agri-Tech Manufacturing Jobe Sand and Gravel Richardson Pioneer AY Core Supply Nieboer Farm Supplies Ltd. Vandenberg Hay Farm Agriculture/ Noble Equipment Ltd. Mechanical Services GFL – Green for Life Nobleford Truck Wash Ltd. Galimax Trading Inc. Water Sense Irrigation Financial Services ATB Financial and Real Estate Palliser School Division/ Noble Education and Public Central School Sector Village of Nobleford Nobleford Food Market R-Kids Fashion Retail Hair Expressions Eddie’s Pizza & Donairs Jen’s Restaurant Vercon Construction Construction/ Verrduyn Homes Nobleford’s economy is primarily Contracting Charlton & Hill based on agricultural implement Ashcroft Master Builder manufacturing. Available Land 20 fully serviced residential lots in the new Centennial Subdivision are currently for sale at prices that range in price from approximately $23‐$55,000 per lot. Village of Nobleford: Economic Development Community Profile 4 With a vibrant housing market, there are also a few new and pre‐owned houses for sale in Nobleford. Local realty companies that will have listings include: www.point2homes.com/CA/Real‐Estate‐Listings/AB/Nobleford.html www.royallepage.ca/en/ab/nobleford/properties www.remax.ca/ab/nobleford‐real‐estate www.lethbridgerealestate.com/search_map_results.php?form_LOC_SUBAREA%5B%5D=Nobleford Houses are relatively affordable in Nobleford. For 2013 and 2014 combined, the average selling price of a home in Nobleford was $220,000. The Nobleford Industrial Park has 5 industrial lots for sale. The lots are as follows. Project Size Price Lot 3 1.4 Acre $42,000 Lot 4 1.2 Acre $36,000 Lot 9 1.2 Acre $36,000 Lot 10 1.4 Acre $42,000 Lot 11 1.6 Acre $48,000 Development Statistics Industrial/ Commercial/ Number of New Value of New Other Residential Total Permit Year Public/ Institutional Houses Houses Permit Value Value Permit Value 2014 5 $1,475,000 $29,550 $474,000 $1,978,550 2013 3 $635,000 $76,000 $1,450,750 $2,161,750 2012 16 $3,455,000 $51,800 $858,000 $4,364,800 2011 12 $2,549,000 $6,500 $2,965,000 $5,520,500 2010 32 $5,978,500 $106,500 $5,430,000 $11,515,000 Village of Nobleford: Economic Development Community Profile 5 Workforce Statistics Statistic (2011) Village of Nobleford SouthGrow Region Workforce population (age 15-64) 590 93,380 Workforce participation rate 65% 70% % of Workforce with no diploma or post-secondary 38% 25% % of Workforce with high school diploma or equivalent 31% 29% % of Workforce with post-secondary diploma, certificate, or 32% 46% degree 24% of Nobleford’s workforce works in manufacturing – three times the regional average. Nobleford also has double the concentration in transportation and construction related jobs compared to the region. Employment by Industry Statistic (2011) Village of Nobleford SouthGrow Region Agriculture 20% 12% Oil & Gas <1% 5% Manufacturing 24% 8% Utilities, Transportation, Construction, 29% 15% Warehousing Retail & Wholesale Trade 4% 14% Finance, Insurance, Real Estate <1% 4% Professional, Scientific, Management, waste <1% 7% remediation Education & Healthcare 14% 18% Arts, Recreation, Accommodation <1% 6% Public Administration, Other 9% 11% Village of Nobleford: Economic Development Community Profile 6 Employment by Industry Arts, Recreation, Accommodation 0% Other 9% Agriculture Professional, 20% Education & Scientific, Oil & Gas Healthcare Management, 0% 14% 0% Finance, Insurance, Real Estate 0% Manufacturing Utilities, Transport, 24% Retail & Wholesale Construction, 4% Warehousing 29% Transportation Infrastructure Facility Details 2014 Average Annual Daily Traffic (AADT) measured at the junction of highways 23 and 519 Highway 23 North bound: 1,770 Highway 23 South bound: 3,250 Highways and Highway 519 East bound: 1,010 Traffic Counts Highway 519 West bound: 1,510 2014 Average Annual Daily Traffic measured 4.7 km north of the junction of highway 3 and 23 (Monarch) Highway 23 North bound: 3,325 Highway 23 South bound: 3,259 Rail Served by the Canadian Pacific Railway mainline Regional Airport Lethbridge Airport International Calgary International Airport Airport Nobleford is located near the CANAMEX Trade Corridor. The Corridor includes approximately 1,150 km of Alberta’s provincial highway network, including parts of Highways 4, 3, 2, 216, 16, and 43, linking the Alberta/ Montana border crossing to the Alberta ‐ British Columbia border on Highway 43. Village of Nobleford: Economic Development Community Profile 7 Municipal Tax and Utility Rates Service Rate Property Tax: Residential 3.0591 (2014 Mill rate) Nobleford’s mill Property Tax: Non- 5.9861 (2014 Mill rate) Residential rates are the Residential/ water and waste $40.00 bi-monthly plus $0.60/ m3 up to 100 m3, lowest of any water $1.17 per m3 over 100 m3 Non-residential water and 3 southern Alberta $40.00 bi-monthly plus $1.17 per m waste water Residential and non- municipality. In residential garbage and $26.00 bi-monthly fact, Nobleford’s recycling mill rates are less than half of the Utility Providers next lowest Service Provider municipality’s mill Gas Atco Gas rates! Electricity Fortis Telephone/ Internet Telus/ Platinum Communications, Figment Education Facility Details Noble Central School Elementary School (Kindergarten to Grades 12) One goal of the Noble Central Secondary (Middle/ Noble Central School School modernization project is High) School (Kindergarten to Grades 12) University of Lethbridge to improve the accessibility of Lethbridge College the building.