Niagara Economic Development Comes to Handling Specialty
A group of International Investment Development Representatives visited Handling Specialty on May 11th, 2018, through our contacts at Niagara Regions Economic Development. This group of 25 represents the province of Ontario in-market in the U.S., Europe and Asia, where their job is to promote the province as a location for investment opportunities. Handling Specialty was one of a number of companies visited during the group’s tour of the Niagara region and was hosted by Tom Beach, President of HSML, for 2.5 hours as he spoke to their facility and the benefits their company has attracted due to their geographic location.
Much of what was revealed through the president’s speech, select videos and slides impressed upon the group the many reasons they might consider attaching their efforts to the Niagara region.
There is steel made locally from Hamilton, where two major producers enjoy unfettered access through land and water. Processing facilities which offer finished steel services like galvanizing, heat treating, stress relieving, machining and coating of all varieties.
The Niagara region was also touted as an ideal local because of its convenient border access to the U.S. within kilometres via land and water and oceanic travel by way of the great lakes. That international flights from either Toronto’s Pearson Airport or through Buffalo offer easy access to the Niagara region was also tabled.
People are the backbone of any company, and the Niagara region has been experiencing an influx of housing, bringing professionals and trades into the region at an accelerated rate.
Education was another item brought up with examples like Brock University and Niagara College, along with McMaster University and Mohawk College, all within a short drive of Handling Specialty’s Grimsby facility. This locally farmed talent can be easily integrated into any company located within the Niagara region.
Infrastructure, including urban sprawl, new hospitals, schools and community, including the diversity of landscape, offered the fact that the Niagara region still has plenty of room to grow and that there is a place for everyone.
