Sarnia-Lambton News

Sitelines

News from the Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership

December 15, 2010

We have a big attitude

This community of 129,000, located on the St. Lawrence Seaway in the heart of the Great Lakes Industrial Corridor, has a powerful "can do" attitude that is translating into big things. And we do mean big.

Here's what's happening in Sarnia-Lambton. The world's largest PV solar farm is generating 80 MW of electrical power; Canada's largest ethanol plant is producing 200 million litres per year and is doubling in size; Canada's largest co-generation plant produces power and steam for local industries; and Canada's Bioindustrial Innovation Centre recently opened its state-of-the-art R&D labs at The Research Park, Sarnia-Lambton Campus.

Add in a number of announced sustainable energy projects, including wind energy, a further 40 MW of PV solar power, a biodiesel plant, and methane-to-energy power generation, and you can see why there is global interest in Sarnia-Lambton.

Why are these new sectors choosing Sarnia-Lambton? It's a profitable location. Companies can access the heavy industrial infrastructure and transportation routes already in place to serve the area's global refining and petrochemical centre, and affordable zoned industrial land is available literally just minutes from the southern Ontario/Michigan border.

And then there's our attitude (it's great).

Companies and site selectors know they will get prompt and superb service from the economic development team at the Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership. Three time winners of Site Selection Magazine's "Top Ten Economic Development Groups in Canada", our team works hard to provide every piece of information needed to fairly evaluate this community as a location for business and industry.

Give us a call and check out our attitude!

George Mallay

General Manager

Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership

mallay@sarnialambton.on.ca

www.sarnialambton.on.ca

It's a wonderful life!

"14 hours and I am off to Sarnia, Ontario for 5 days/4 nites of work and some fishing!" - Facebook post, November 14, 2010.

Lake Huron, near Sarnia. Photo-Tourism Sarnia-Lambton

Sarnia-Lambton has a charm that makes people want to put down roots. Its residents are known for their reluctance to move away, and many people who leave due to job commitments return to Sarnia-Lambton when ever they can.

What makes this community so welcoming, and so hard to leave?

The water plays a big part in people's affection for Sarnia-Lambton. The County of Lambton is bordered by over 115 km. of shoreline, and sandy beaches and clean clear waves are always near. From picnicking and ship watching on Lake Huron and the St. Clair River to scuba diving exploration of underwater ship wrecks, water and fun go together in this southern Ontario region.

Located almost as far south as you can go in Canada, Sarnia-Lambton is actually farther south than many US states! Click here for an interactive location map.

With a population of 129,000 the community is big enough to offer upscale amenities, but small enough to feel like home.

An exciting arts and cultural scene is growing throughout the area, anchored by a new $9.1 million art gallery being constructed within the walls of the historic Thom Building in downtown Sarnia. The new gallery will house the County of Lambton's impressive collection of paintings by famous Canadian landscape artists the Group of Seven. Click here to learn more about Lambton's Group of Seven collection.

Live theatre in Grand Bend, Petrolia and Sarnia provides a well-rounded playbill of comedy, drama and music, and the Sarnia waterfront rocks to Bayfest's headline musical acts every July.

Golfers have over twenty local courses to choose from, and mild winters mean an extended season for true lovers of the sport. The winters are among the mildest in Canada, and the summers are gorgeous.

But it's not just the water, parks, nature trails, events, and the awesome twinned Blue Water Bridge that spans the St. Clair River connecting Sarnia-Lambton with Port Huron Michigan that appeal; it's the friendliness of the people. People smile and say hello; they hold open the door for the person behind them at the store. It's a community that rallies around when there is a need.

Homes are affordable, even for young people starting out. The average price of a nice detached three bedroom family home is about $170,000. All types of housing are available, including waterfront homes and condos, rural estates, and single family homes. Click here to view local real estate listings.

One of the best things about Sarnia-Lambton is that we want to share it with you. We welcome newcomers and want each new person and family joining us to feel at home. The community has a web site that covers a wealth of information about moving to Sarnia-Lambton and living in Canada. You can read through it at www.liveinlambton.ca.

The Economic Partnership has a staff person dedicated to helping newcomers settle in Sarnia-Lambton. His name is Ted Zatylny and you can reach him at 519-332-1820 (toll free in North America 1-800-972-7642) or by email at ted@sarnialambton.on.ca. If you are thinking of making a fresh start in a new community give Ted a call. He will be happy to introduce you to Sarnia-Lambton.

PS - It's impossible to describe Sarnia-Lambton only in words! Click here for a picture tour from Live In Lambton's web site.

Cost-saving sites in heart of industrial area

Access lower-cost energy at these two fully serviced industrial parks, pre-zoned for heavy industry.

The Sarnia Bio-Industrial Park and the Bluewater Energy Park offer favourable steam and electrical pricing to industries locating within their boundaries. Both parks provide deep water marine terminals, rail, industrial infrastructure, and more. The parks are located in the heart of the Great Lakes industrial corridor and just ten minutes from the international Blue Water Bridge Michigan/SW Ontario commercial border crossing. Here are some links for more detailed facts:
* For a synopsis of services offered at these unique parks click here.

* Access the Bluewater Energy Park website here.

* Access the Sarnia Bio-Industrial Park website here.

Light industrial land is also available close to water, rail, and highway routes. Seven fully serviced Sarnia-Lambton municipal industrial parks have affordable pre-zoned light industrial land for sale. The parks are only a 10 to 35 minute highway drive to the international Blue Water Bridge US/SW Ontario commercial border crossing, deep water Port of Sarnia on the St. Lawrence Seaway, and the CN Railway Yards. (Product shipped by rail can access direct service to the US Midwest and the sea port of Halifax, Nova Scotia.)

Find out more about these affordable transportation-central manufacturing sites located in the heart of the Great Lakes industrial corridor by clicking here.

We make it easier. The staff of the Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership is ready to help with your site selection needs. As the economic development agency for Sarnia-Lambton, our services are confidential and free of charge. Email or call 519-332-1820 or (within North America) 1-800-972-7642.

Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership
Phone: 519.332.1820 / 1.800.972.7642

www.sarnialambton.on.ca

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