  s
the mapmaker shows, Cumberland County is Nova Scotia's land
link to North America. And in an economy hinged on the smooth
flow of goods and people to and from the world's major markets,
Cumberland is poised to sow prosperity along the Halifax-Moncton
Corridor, and to reap the employment, activity, and attitude
this prosperity will yield.
Recent attention to the potential that lies northwest between
two of the Maritime provences' largest urban regions in reinforcing
the economic and social directions that Cumberland has taken
for generations. Less then two hours from Halifax, and about
40 minutes from Moncton, the county for years has used its
natural resources and built upon its prime logistics locale
to develop a diverse economy of agriculture, forestry, tourism,
manufacturing, and public services. And all of these will
benefit from enhanced attention to the established Corridor
traveling through the county to populous points on either
side.
"Development
of the Corridor strengthens what we-ve been doing here for
years," says Amherst's mayor, Jerry Hallee, who
several years ago forged a working relationship with Moncton
that has supported its bid for an international airport, and
has attracted numerous business to both communities.
The
lifeblood of the Corridor is carried by Trans-Canada Highway
104, the twinned artery traveling east-west from Amherst to
Cape Breton Island. The highway intersects in Truro with twinned
Highway 102, the northbound artery from Halifax. About 40,000
vehicles daily travel the Corridor, bringing with them people
and market demand that Cumberland is ready and able to fill.
The
town of Amherst, Oxford, and Springhill are directly off the
TCH, making their highway land attractive for retail and other
services for passing visitors and residents. "Commercial
development at the entrance to Oxford, for example, has changed
the habits of highway traveler from once a 'drive-by scenario'
to a 'drive-in location'," says Rhonda Kelly, executive
director of the Cumberland Regional Economic Development Association.(CREDA).
Recent
studies into corridor potential also reveal benefits for the
workforce and those seeking employees. "The Cumberland
labour market continues to be flexible with regard to working
outside their community of residence," Kelly explains.
Easy travel enables employees, and the workplaces that need
them, to easily connect and gain the best of both worlds -
employers get the skilled labour they require, and employees
are able to live in the community of their choice, providing
reasonable costs of living and a quality of life that they
and they families desire.
Bordered
by nearly 200 km of coastline on some of the warmest salt
waters in Atlantic Canada, Cumberland's geography also includes
native woodlands, freshwater lakes, abundance of clean potable
water, and prime agricultural land that produces a variety
of foods, including the famous Oxford blueberries. From the
tiny indigo harvest Oxford Frozen Foods has grown into a world
exporter of blueberries and a major regional employer, fed
by the bounty of the land, a conductive business climate,
and transport connections that enable its products to reach
major markets by road, rail, air, or sea in a manner that
is not only economical, but timely for perishable products.
In
addition to its proximity to Moncton and Halifax by road,
Cumberland is five hours from New England, four hours from
the Newfoundland ferry, and less than two hours from other
Maritime urban cenetres. Greater Moncton International Airport
and the ports of Halifax and Saint John are within two hours.
Cumberland also has direct rail access with both Canadian
National and Vial Rail. These connections transport goods
effectively, but also serve to bring visitors from points
around the globe to enjoy Cumberland's beaches, hiking trails,
historical sites, provincial parks, and outdoor recreational
prospects. It is also bringing international attention to
its seasonal, residential, and commercial real estate markets
from discerning seekers who admire the seamless blend of urban
opportunities with rural living.
Logistics
and the water supply enabled the town of Amherst to attract
Weston Bakery to its industrial park this past year. In June
2003, M&S Foods (a division of GFS Foods) opened its $10-million
Maritime distribution facility. These newest park tenants
join a family established and expanding manufacturers, including
Poly Cello, producer of food grade plastic packaging, and
aerospace components manufacturer IMP Group.
The
retail and service sector is expanding as well, with a new
Walmart under construction, the opening of an Atlantic Superstore
this year the pending arrival of a Super 8 hotel and the reinvestment
of national retail, restaurant, and automotive franchises
in the country. The area also has a new high school and regional
hospital, and construction begins on two new elementary schools
this year. In addition to the artery connecting people and
places is a growing telecommunications system linking the
country's rural regions to economic and information opportunities.
Cumberland is also high on the list for natural gas availability
when distribution begins in the Provence, possible as early
as next year.
"The
development of the Corridor will identify even more opportunities
for development" says Mayor Hallee, "and
it will continue to capitalize on what we can offer the world."
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By Jennifer Hatt
Article from the Halifax ~ Moncton Growth Corridor - Supplement
to Trade & Commerce Magazine.
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