Main Street of the South Shore plans for business growth

News release

Town of Bridgewater undertakes strategic planning for reconfiguration of Bridgewater Business Park

July 8, 2019 – Bridgewater, NS – Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency

Global companies invest in Canada’s world-class manufacturing industries because they are internationally recognized, export-oriented and provide quality services on time. These industries operate in both urban and rural centres across Canada and rely on governments to provide the essential infrastructure to support their growth and competitiveness.

Recently selected as a winner for the Infrastructure Canada Smart Cities Challenge, the Town of Bridgewater is undertaking a new strategic study to redesign the Bridgewater Business Park. The study will provide the Town with the necessary information to expand the Park, including environmental and structural assessments for the relocation of existing infrastructure as well as detailed designs for new road and underground systems. The redesign will ensure the Town can accommodate new and expanding business growth, fostering Bridgewater’s reputation as a hub for bringing together companies, resources and talent from various industries.

Today, the Honourable Bernadette Jordan, Minister of Rural Economic Development and Member of Parliament for South Shore – St. Margarets, on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), announced Government of Canada support to the Town of Bridgewater for this project.

This investment supports the Government of Canada’s Rural Economic Development Strategy, which seeks to maximize federal investments to improve the quality and resiliency of community infrastructure, create good jobs, support trade and investment, strengthen skills, and welcome newcomers in rural communities.

Quotes

“Our government is committed to collaborating with all levels of government and our industries, including small and medium-sized companies, to strengthen Canadian communities, while enabling sustainable growth, and supporting good middle class jobs. By putting people, places, and partnerships at the centre of rural economic development, more Canadians will find good work developing the industries of the future.”

     - The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for ACOA

“In more ways than one, Bridgewater is becoming one of Canada’s Smartest Cities. With a new strategic plan to redesign the Bridgewater Business Park, the Town of Bridgewater will lay the foundation for a prosperous, competitive and thriving rural Canada where residents have the opportunity to pursue meaningful careers and enjoy a high quality of life for years to come.”

     - The Honourable Bernadette Jordan, Minister of Rural Economic Development and Member of Parliament for South Shore – St. Margarets

“Investing in the Bridgewater Business Park will help existing businesses grow and potentially attract new businesses. We are pleased to be collaborating with ACOA and the Town of Bridgewater on this important study.”

     - The Honourable Mark Furey, Minister of Justice and Member of the Legislative Assembly for Lunenburg West, on behalf of the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal, the Honourable Lloyd Hines

“With today’s announcement bringing funding support from ACOA and the Province of Nova Scotia, we will begin the design phase of our business park realignment. The Bridgewater Business Park was initially conceived as an industrial park almost 50 years ago and laid out in a manner that doesn’t support the needs of our very diverse industrial and commercial corporate community today. This new plan will allow our business park to grow and thrive for generations.”

     - David Mitchell, Mayor, Town of Bridgewater

Quick facts

  • The Town of Bridgewater is receiving a $500,000 contribution through ACOA’s Innovative Communities Fund (ICF). The Province of Nova Scotia is also contributing a total of $310,000 to the project.

  • The Bridgewater Business Park currently has over 50 industrial, light industrial and retail businesses with approximately 1,350 fulltime employees. In addition, the park has public service sites and administration offices as well as the Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre and Bridgewater Skate Park.

  • The funding will help the Town secure project management expertise and engineering services, create detailed designs for road and underground infrastructure including traffic, fire protection and water services, and an environmental plan for the relocation of heavy industries.

  • The ICF focuses on investments that lead to long-term employment and economic capacity building in Atlantic Canadian communities and builds on the objectives of the Innovation and Skills Plan.

Associated links

Contacts

Chris Brooks
Director, Communications and Outreach
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
902-426-9417 / 902-830-3839 (cell)
chris.brooks@canada.ca

Marla MacInnis
Nova Scotia Department of 
Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal
902-499-6428 (cell)
Marla.MacInnis@novascotia.ca

Patrick Hirtle
Communications Manager
Town of Bridgewater
902-541-4388 / 902-930-1382 (cell)
patrick.hirtle@bridgewater.ca 

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