Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
Image from The Globe and Mail
The Region of Niagara is comprised of twelve municipalities in Southern Ontario. Each municipality represents a unique combination of agricultural, commercial, industrial, multi-residential, and hospitality opportunities. Today, I will be examining the Town of Grimsby, which is the western gateway for the Niagara Peninsula. The town's location on the QEW makes it an ideal area for developments in the residential and commercial sectors.
Connecting Niagara and Hamilton
The Town of Grimsby is located on the QEW between the City of St. Catharines and the City of Hamilton. It offers easy access to several major urban centres. It has a close proximity to Hamilton, Toronto, and Buffalo- each conveniently located within an hour's drive. In addition to access to the QEW, the town has excellent access to multiple modes of transportation, including rail and international airports (Hamilton Munro International Airport, Toronto Pearson International Airport and Niagara Falls International Airport).
The Town of Grimsby has been able to leverage its location on the QEW to attract a variety of industries. The town has proven success in several industries including:
- Wine and Beverage
- Agricultural products
- Floral products
- Modular buildings
- Transportation and warehousing
- Printing and industrial automation equipment
Challenges in the industrial industry
Recent developments in town have largely been in the residential and commercial sectors. While the town is experiencing growth in these specific sectors, it is considerably weaker in the industrial sector. The town lacks suitable parcels of land for industrial development and it also faces strong competition from other municipalities in the Niagara Region.
Play to its strengths
The Town of Grimsby recognizes the need to play to its strengths. With a prime location along the industrial corridor, the town has the potential to lure companies from the GTA due to lower costs and the town's ability to take advantage of a large, well-educated labour pool. The Town of Grimsby has been undergoing changes to strengthen the tourism industry within the town, specifically agritourism. The area has been developing the wine and beverage industry, establishing itself in the Niagara wine tourism market.
Growing a residential base
While Grimsby presents a number of limitations in growth, mainly due to a lack of suitable parcels of land available for development, it continues to enjoy a steady population growth and remains an attractive setting for residential developments. With a larger focus on residential developments, commercial developments will be needed to sustain the population. If you're looking to invest in Niagara, connect with a Niagara real estate appraiser to determine the value of your investment.
