Two new companies are coming to Chatham-Kent, and they plan to bring more than 200 jobs with them.
The two businesses will pay more than $1 million for about 26 acres of land at the Bloomfield Business Park and plan to erect storage facilities.
The first company is a Scottish whiskey firm. Stuart McFadden, acting director of economic development for the municipality, said. The business is looking to set up a storage and packaging facility here.
The second, Lloyd Star Global Network, will establish cold and dry storage in Chatham-Kent.
McFadden said the firms have signed binding agreements with the municipality and the deals are complete.
He added for both companies, their Chatham-Kent developments will mark their first investments into Canada.
In one case, a drive along Highway 401 is all it took for one firm to take interest here.
“It was neat – the company in the alcohol business, they were driving down the 401, saw the activity at the business park with IAT Global. They picked up the phone number from our sign, gave us a call and they came in and met later that day,” he said.
The company eventually purchased six acres in the business park.
Lloyd Star Global ultimately became interested in the municipality through Mayor Randy Hope, McFadden said.
“He introduced the group to Chatham-Kent. They were looking at other communities and he got them down here. They liked the property. They liked the proximity to the 401,” he said.
Development for the spirits blending and packaging company is anticipated to be within approximately the next 60 days. When construction is finished, the facility should employ 15 full-time staff. Development of the Lloyd Star Global Network land is set to begin in the spring of 2019 and, when complete, will look to employ 200 people.
McFadden said 20 acres of the land involved in the deal went through the Ontario Investment Ready: Certified Site process.
“We were able to talk with them with the assurance that we are shovel ready,” he said, adding with all services and studies in place, construction can effectively begin as soon as a deal is finalized.
“Having those on hand is definitely a benefit to us to ensure there is no delay. To the business world, time is money,” McFadden said.
Municipal officials say Chatham-Kent is well positioned to handle this and additional development.
“Companies are choosing Chatham-Kent because they realize that they can be successful here thanks to proactive initiatives put in place to make our community ideal for investment,” said John Norton, general manager of community development, in a media release. “For example, we have created a selection of business parks, with affordable land, outfitted that land with the infrastructure needed for development, and then put in place tax incentives that make Chatham-Kent the ideal place to build.”
The Bloomfield Business Park, the concept of which began in 2001, is now about half developed. McFadden estimates there are about 44 acres of usable land still in the park for future development.
Most of that acreage is fully serviced, he added, but not all of it.
“A portion of what’s left is where services aren’t extended. It would probably be the last portion to be developed,” McFadden said.
