LISTOWEL | ONTARIO | CANADA COMMERCIAL ... - Perth County

ALISTOWEL | ONTARIO | CANADACOMMERCIAL INVESTMENT PROSPECTUS

23LISTOWEL | ONTARIO | CANADAC23AMitchell Rd. S86 23Main St. W23BWallace Ave. N Wallace Ave. N86Main St. EWest End HighwayCommercial• Great place to locate larger formatservice and retail operations• 40% retail• Anchors: Zehrs, Mark’s Work WearhouseCanadian Tire• 36% of this commercial area representsdevelopment opportunities• High traffic counts• New infrastructureADowntown ListowelB• Historic facades and walkable streets• 600 residents and 2,500 employeesrepresent a large captive market• Over 50 retail businesses• Town’s main entertainment area• 7% new land development opportunities• Heaviest traffic flows in town atintersection of 23 and 86North End HighwayCommercial86• Over 55% of properties are retail• 16% of properties are availablefor future development with manylarge lots available• Businesses in the district includeHonda, Kia, Ford, McDonald’s,Tim Hortons• High traffic counts – Highway 23 isListowel’s main north-south arteryC

WELCOME TO LISTOWELI am proud to present you with our Retail Prospectusfor North Perth, showcasing support for our currentbusinesses while looking forward to new and excitingbusiness growth – we are Cultivating Opportunity forbusiness!Listowel is a thriving and progressive communitylocated in Perth County, the heart of SouthwesternOntario with a robust and diversified businesscommunity.The community of 12,600 residents is made up of long-time and new residentswith diverse backgrounds and a wide range of skills and talent. A strong worklifebalance exists in Listowel and we are looking forward to an exciting future ofgrowth and prosperity.Mayor Julie BehrnsThe County and its partners have completed a2.3 million dollar community revitalization projectto promote economic growth, attract investmentand provide support to local businesses. Businesssupport is strong, and our downtown andhighway commercial areas offer unique businessopportunities.County-wide Business Retention and Expansionprojects have identified Listowel as having a positivebusiness environment, Listowel businesses ratethe area’s quality of life as a strong factor in maintaining a happy and productiveworkforce.I invite you to explore the many opportunities that await you in Listowel andPerth County. We have a dedicated Economic Development Office eager to assistyou and introduce you to a new world of opportunity for your business. We lookforward to meeting you soon!Sincerely,Warden Ian Forrest1

The regional centre of Listowel, with a market trade area of over 42,000 people,is located within the Municipality of North Perth and the County of Perth.AStratford ShakespeareFestivalLake HuronOwen SoundCollingwoodBarrieBCBlyth FestivalDrayton FestivalONTARIO | CANADADESt. Jacob’s CountryWilfrid LaurierUniversityGoderichB8623CListowelFEDWaterlooGuelphTorontoFUniversity of WaterlooLake Huron BeachesAStratfordKitchenerHamiltonLake OntarioSarnia2LondonTop Ten Reasons To Do Business in Listoweln Attractive downtown business communityn Strong, skilled and dedicated labour forcen Affordable cost of doing businessn Strategic location in Southwestern Ontarion Access to consumer traffic and catchment arean Convenient transportation network of highwaysn Excellent infrastructure for a growing business basen Strong and supportive business communityn Existing retail centre serving a large marketn Supportive Council and Economic Development Office2

Transportation NetworksSurrounded by well-connected highways, Listowel is easy to reach.n Perth Line 86: Connects Listowel to Kitchener-Waterloo in the east andLake Huron to the west.n Highway 23: Connects Listowel to cottage country in the north andLondon in the south.n Highway 401: The main transportation artery in Ontario. Perth County is30 km north.n Air Transportation: Listowel is about 1 hour drive to London Internationaland Region of Waterloo International Airport and less than 2 hours toToronto’s Lester B. Pearson International. These airports offer a globaltransportation linkage for passengers and cargo.n Rail Transportation: VIA Rail Canada provides daily passenger rail servicesfrom Stratford and Kitchener (1 hour away).Locations to Suit your Business NeedsListowel has a wide choice of commercial locations available for your businessneeds including space in the quaint and historic downtown to more recent andlarger scale highway commercial developments.For an up-to-date listing contact the Perth County Economic DevelopmentOffice.“ Listowel offers anumber of retail, service andindustry opportunities with asource of talented people for anybusiness. Our retail base is strongbecause of our diverse mix thatcovers everything a consumercould hope for. Listowel is a veryvibrant community where we areproud to live and work.”Bill Huether, President of ListowelRetail Merchants AssociationBusiness Support ServicesThe Perth County Economic Development Office is available to help youbuild your business! We are dedicated to helping you find the right location foryour business. The office works in partnership with local municipalities, business,industry and all levels of government to seek out strategic opportunities that willenhance the local economy.Helping you succeed are several organizations that work with the EconomicDevelopment Office:The Listowel Retail Merchants Association is run by retailers for retailers toenhance the image and profitability of its members. It works on behalf of allmerchants to create a strong and vibrant shopping environment that is functionaland enticing. The Listowel Retail Merchants Association also promotes jointevents that generate consumer activity.To help your business succeed, local municipalities, Province of Ontario andPerth Community Futures have partnered to create the Stratford/Perth Centrefor Business. This one-stop resource for one-on-one business coaching,financing and expansion planning will provide information and identify solutionsto enhance your business success.3

Competitive Overview of Listowel’s Retail MarketTypes of RetailType of Properties inListowel’s Commercial AreasSectorPercentageRetail 41 %Development 12 %OpportunitiesProfessional Services 10 %Food and Entertainment 8 %Parks 7%Financial Services 6 %Institutional 4 %Health Care 4 %Government 3 %Parking 2 %Manufacturing 2 %Listowel’s retail sector has a strong concentration in automobile dealerships/parts stores, grocery stores, florists, ladies fashions and footwear, and usedmerchandise stores.Retail Sector: Facts and FiguresListowel has a thriving and active downtown. With almost600 residents living in the downtown core, businesses canenjoy a retail and residential neighborhood mix with analready existing culture and identity.Listowel is a place where urban services meet rural living,making Listowel a great location for employees and families.A Shop Local campaign by the Listowel Retail Merchants andthe Perth County Economic Development Office has fosteredstrong local loyalty to businesses.Key Drivers of Listowel’s GrowthListowel’s growth is driven by a desire to meet the community’s needs. In 2010,Listowel’s consumers responded when asked what they felt would make the retailsector of Listowel stronger and more responsive to the resident’s needs. Here iswhat they said:n Furniture and home decor storesn Specialty food and beverage storesn Men’s fashionsn Children’s fashionsn Children’s toys and giftsn Accommodation servicesn Food services and drinking placesLook What’s New in Listowel!2010 marked the year of the new Trillium Mutual Insurance building. With aLeadership in Energy and Environment Design specification (LEED), this buildingreflects the community’s dedication towards green development.The former Campbell Soup plant in Listowel was purchased by Erie Meat Productsof Mississauga. The facility will be used to ship 50-60 million pounds of poultryto world markets on an annual basis. In 2010, Ontario’s Premier Dalton McGuintyannounced the company would receive a $3,000,000 provincial investment fortraining and to update the existing food processing facility.PHOTOS: (top) Trillium Mutual Insurance; (bottom) Erie Meat Products: John Wilkinson,Perth-Wellington MPP; The Hon. Carol Mitchell, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs;The Hon. Dalton McGuinty, Premier of Ontario; Simon Rosen, owner of Erie Meat Products;George Tiesma, VP of Business Development.4

Prominent Retail Businesses in Listoweln Shoppers Drug Martn Canadian Tiren Marks Work Warehousen Zehrsn Crabby Joesn Car dealerships, includingChrysler, Ford, General Motors,Honda and KiaPopulation Growth and Higher Standards of LivingRare for rural communities, Listowel’s trade market area has been growing steadilyand expanded by 1.8% between 2001 and 2006.25%18.75%Household Incomeby PopulationThe table below shows Listowel’s trade market area is 42,177.COMMUNITY 2001 POPULATION 2006 POPULATION % CHANGE12.5%Howick 3,779 3,882 2.7Mapleton 9,303 9,851 5.9North Huron 4,984 5,015 0.6North Perth 12,055 12,254 1.7North Wellington 11,305 11,175 -1.1TOTAL 41,426 42,177 1.86.25%0%up to 3030-5050-7070-90in thousands of f ddollars90+Listowel is part of a growing population within North Perth. A moderatepopulation growth rate helps support the quality of life that Listowel residentsare accustomed to. Listowel residents are known for their community pride andfriendly approach to life – business owners call customers by name and greetthem with a smile. As Listowel grows, so too does the breadth of its retail services.The surrounding communities utilize services in Listowel which has created anexpanding trade area for local businesses. With consistent population growth,businesses can be assured they will continue to have a strong consumer base.Household Income & Household Income GroupListowel’s trade area has an average per person income of $40,900 which exists inthe overall trade area.Housing Availability and Home OwnershipIn Listowel there is a strong population of home owners, and this is in part due tothe availability of affordable housing. Whether preference is for a new or historichome, Listowel offers high quality of living at an affordable price.Labour ForceBased on most recent Census data, the labour force in Listowel’s trade marketarea is 32,495 people.Source: Statistics Canada (2005)Beyond 2020 DataRegional Household IncomeHowickMapletonNorth HuronNorth PerthNorth Wellington0 20,000 40,000 60,000 80,000Median income 2005 –all private households ($)5

Municipal Tax RatesListowelFergusMintoHanoverElmiraBUSINESS FACTORSWe know what is important in the planning of your business. SupportiveCouncils at the Municipal and County levels ensure that you will enjoy a seamlessdevelopment process and reasonable development and operating costs.Municipal Tax RateListowel, as part of Perth County, offers municipal tax rates which are competitivewith other municipalities across the region. Commercial and residential tax ratesare low in comparison to surrounding communities.InvestmentBuilding permits are required for the construction of new buildings or structures,building additions, swimming pools, decks, erection of signs and for mostbuilding or structural alterations. A permit can be obtained at the North PerthMunicipal Office in Listowel.WaterlooStratfordLondonCLASS OF PERMITConstruction of or additions tocommercial, buildingsConstruction of accessory buildingsfor commercial useRenovations to commercial buildingsSource: Municipality of North Perth, 2010FEE$100 plus $0.60/sq. ft. of floor area$100 plus $0.55/sq. ft. of floor area$100 plus $0.45/sq. ft. of affectedfloor area0 1.25 2.5 3.75 5.0Residential Tax Rate (%)Commercial Tax Rate (%)Source: FIR 2009 Data as derivedby Millier Dickinson BlaisCommercial Development ChargesIn Listowel, commercial development is charged only on water and sewer at therate of $1.61 per square foot. If the property is located in the South East Drainagearea the cost is $2.97 per square foot. No other development charges are appliedto new construction.“ Listowel is a growing community. Its retail core has all theofferings of any large city. Our community has a diversepopulation with strong local business support and isprogressive in residential as well as business development.”Leona Morwood, Manager Customer Service, Scotiabank6

Space Available/Lease RatesIn Listowel there are various options available for new business development.Economic activity is concentrated in three distinct commercial nodes, eachoffering a strong flow of consumer traffic.n Downtown Listowel (Main Street/Wallace Avenue and area): offers astrong mix of retail stores, government services, food and entertainment,health care centres and personal services.n Mitchell Road South: offers an array of grocery stores, restaurants, clothing,home retail and automotive services. Much of the new development inListowel is located here.n Wallace Avenue North: offers a variety of restaurants, grocery stores and cardealerships. This retail node is located on Highway 23 and intersects with PerthLine 86 in downtown Listowel.Annual Average Daily Traffic VolumeWallace Avenue NorthMain Street EastMain Street West0 2000 4000 6000 8000Source: Ontario Ministry of Transportation. (2006) Provincial Highways Annual Average Daily Traffic reportand Perth County Public Works Department, 2007“ When the Canadian Tire franchise inListowel became available, we wereeager to make the purchase due tothe whole package of communityofferings. Listowel offers affordableland and housing, a strong qualityof living and a loyal, dedicatedworkforce. Small-town charm and acooperative business environmentmade Listowel a great choice for us.”Angus McDonaldDealer, Canadian Tire ListowelFor a fourth year in a row, Ideal Supply has beennamed to the Top 50 Best Managed Companies.7

Tourism and CultureTourism is a key industry in Listowel and represents over 1,200 jobs in the regionaleconomy. In 2008, Perth County attracted an impressive 1,324,000 visitors. In2009 visitors spent $189 million in Perth County compared to $120 million in theWaterloo region. Culture in the region is flourishing and has contributed largely totourism through performances, museums, art galleries, festivals and fairs.Listowel is located just north of Stratford, home to Canada’s most famous theatreand is on the route from large populations to the south and famous holidaylocations along the Lake Huron coast.The creative cultural industries have contributed greatly to Listowel’s tourismsuccess, as it is home to many talented visual artists who are showcased annuallyas part of the region’s Studio Tour. In Listowel, Theatre 311 is a well-respectedvenue for live theatre, drawing on local talent and actors from surrounding cities.Perth County is home to several film companies – Dura Mater Productions, whohas received recognition by film festivals throughout North America and Europe,as well as to Ballinran Productions, a Gemini award-winning, film productioncompany.Listowel’s Paddyfest attracts thousands of visitors yearly and has grown tobecome the largest Irish festival in North America. The festival, which first startedin 1977, lasts two weeks surrounding St. Patrick’s Day and pays honour to thestrong Irish ancestry present in the community.8

Listowel offers:Business opportunities: Strong business relationships and cooperative partnershipsexist within the local and extended business community. There is agenuine willingness within Listowel to pursue new and innovative businessideas and concepts. Listowel’s business owners are eager to meet the needsof our growing community!A vibrant, growing workforce: Listowel is growing and vibrant and a dedicatedworkforce awaits new businesses.Work/life balance: Complementing the boundless business opportunitiesthat exist in Listowel, its residents can achieve a good work/life balance.An abundance of activities are available for those that enjoy an active lifestyleincluding a variety of festivals and events year-round.

Useful weblinksPerth Countywww.perthcounty.caMunicipality of North Perthwww.northperth.caListowel Retail Merchants Associationwww.listowelrma.comNorth Perth Chamber of Commercewww.npchamber.comNorth Perth Arts and Culture Councilwww.northpertharts.caVisit Perth Countywww.visitperth.caContact informationPerth County Economic Development Office1 Huron Street, Stratford, Ontario N5A 5S4Email: ecedev@perthcounty.caPhone: 519-276-3454Toll Free: 1-800-463-8275 ext 150Fax: 519-271-6265Connect with us onlinePerthCoEcDev PerthCoEcDev PerthCountydotca