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Sault Ste. Marie & Lake Superior Feature

Heliene Canada Inc. plans to open a 40-person plant in Sault Ste. Marie this summer.
New Sault solar panel operator has Spanish connection

Sault Ste. Marie is entering the North American solar panel supply chain market in a big way using some leading-edge European-style technology.



Sault Ste. Marie & Lake Superior News

Sault hotels get facelift for business, conference traffic
Hotel properties in Sault Ste. Marie are getting facelifts and being rebranded as more convention traffic picks up in the city. 
Sault aircraft refurbisher soaring
The recent recession cut deep into the aviation sector, causing some large aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul shops to go out of business.However, it’s opened up doors for smaller players like JD Aero Technical to pick up international work. 
Northern Credit Union builds $8M headquarters in the Soo
The new corporate offices for Northern Credit Union in Sault Ste. Marie broke ground last week for the construction of $8 million building scheduled for completion next year.
Former Algoma CEO on the cutting edge
When Denis Turcotte resigned as head of Algoma Steel last year, he could have written his ticket into any corner office. But instead of becoming a corporate turn-around artist with another struggling company, he caught the consulting bug.


Sault Ste. Marie & Lake Superior Community Profile

Like many northern communities that previously languished under the weight of economic downturns followed by an out-migration of its citizens, Sault Ste Marie is now enjoying a robust cycle of growth and development. The city’s shift into a multi-pronged growth offensive has changed mindsets as much as economic development, thus entrenching a ‘can-do’ ethos into future planning.

“We have seen a wave of commercial development in response to a robust economy,” said Bruce Strapp, CEO for the Sault Ste. Marie Economic Development Corporation.

Chief among these is an expanding multi-modal transportation network linking rail, truck, and shipping lines into an integrated system that facilitates the speedy movement of goods and services. A 60,000 square foot distribution warehouse is intended to alleviate the frustrating delays shippers experience at the more congested border crossings in southern Ontario.

This private initiative by local businessman Jack Purvis is viewed as a complimentary and necessary adjunct to municipal infrastructure developments.

Carmen’s Way, the newly completed bypass now connects the international bridge with Highway 17, a long awaited measure designed to alleviate the congestion of traffic that clogged city streets with private vehicles and transport trucks.

Traditional economic mainstays like Essar Steel Algoma are also repositioning themselves to accommodate value-added components to their industries.

 

Quick Facts 2007 Municipal Tax Rate

Population - 74,566
www.city.saultstemarie.on.ca 
Location - 300 km west of Sudbury
Main industries - steel and wood manufacturing


Commercial rate - 0.051
Industrial occupied - 0.057
Target Growth Areas Real Estate

Value added steel and wood products
Component manufacturing
Biotechnology
Logistics Transportation

Average cost of a 4-bedroom house - $190,000

Developments for 2008 Top 5 Employers

New hospital construction
Energy
Biotech Development
Retail Development
Value-added & wood manufacturing projects

Essar Steel Algoma  - 3300 employees
Sutherland Group  - 1100 employees
NCO Group  - 900 employees
NuComm International - 760 employees
Tenaris Algoma Tubes  - 680 employees


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