The following article appeared n the October 6 edition of the Guelph Mercury:
The city has confirmed the first two tenants for the Hanlon Creek Business Park, which could create as many as 370 jobs.
Councillors this week authorized staff to finalize the sale for two separate properties in the business park.
Peter Cartwright, Guelph’s general manager of economic development and tourism, said the city has been in talks with the two companies “for the last two or three months” and each just recently received authorization from their head offices to move ahead on the Guelph projects.
Both have asked that their names be kept confidential until they have finalized all purchase agreements.
Cartwright said one of the companies is a foreign – which he clarified means not based in North America – company involved in “advanced manufacturing,” while the other is a Canadian construction firm.
“I think they’re names that people will know when they’re announced,” Cartwright said.
The city is currently servicing the first phase of the business park in the city’s southwest corner. Cartwright said that will be completed by the end of March “and at that point in time they will be free to construct their facilities.”
During a televised debate for mayoral candidates Tuesday evening, incumbent Karen Farbridge said the approved sale will bring in about $1 million for the city.
Tuesday’s revelation is the second announcement of new manufacturing jobs coming to the city in as many months. Canadian Solar Solutions Inc. announced in August it will open a production facility on Speedvale Avenue which could eventually create up to 500 jobs.
Chamber of Commerce president Lloyd Longfield said the two prove Guelph is seen as an attractive place to conduct business, despite local perceptions.
“One of the problems is we don’t see ourselves as others see us,” Longfield said. “It’s like Canadian Solar. The things they said about Guelph, made Guelph people blush.”
The Hanlon Creek announcement “certainly shows Guelph is on some radar screens even internationally,” Longfield said.
Cartwright said both companies have expressed a strong interest in having “well-designed and attractive buildings and properties” as they have in other centres.
He noted getting the first two tenants on board will likely make the Hanlon Creek Business Park more attractive to other prospective tenants.
“Until you see some construction it’s difficult to market, but it gets a lot easier when you have companies building there,” Cartwright said.
Longfield agreed some building on the site will likely spur other companies to take a hard look at Hanlon Creek.
He noted the business park should eventually provide many opportunities for collaboration and innovation among those companies that locate within it.
“These advanced manufacturing firms are exactly the type of business we’re trying to attract more of,” Longfield said.