New industry, infrastructure renewal and recreational amenities were among topics celebrated during a virtual presentation hosted by senior staff at Welland city hall Thursday.
The ‘Made in Welland’ event involved the city’s new economic development manager Lina DeChellis, interim chief administrative officer Steve Zorbas, development and building services director Grant Munday, infrastructure services director Sherri-Marie Millar and fire Chief Adam Eckhart sharing success stories and forecasts for the future.
Sixty-two people tuned in and followed along, DeChellis said after the event.
Zorbas referred to a recent article published by Maclean’s magazine that listed Welland as 15th in a list of the country’s top communities in which to live.
Welland is “not only a good place to live, but to work and play,” said Zorbas during the hourlong presentation.
In 2014, 183 housing units were added to local neighbourhoods with a total construction value of more than $80 million.
Fast forwarding to 2020, there were 527 units built — encompassing nearly $201 million in residential development.
This year, up to March 31, 134 units had become part of Welland, equating to more than $55 million in construction.
In 2020, 75 per cent of new abodes were erected in parts of the city already serviced and built up, which is “better for the city financially,” said Munday, adding this approach creates a “more sustainable community.”
Two Empire Communities subdivisions in Dain City will result in about 2,000 new homes.
Munday said the city is proud that it has been able to accomplish such “significant growth” during a pandemic, a time when small businesses have taken financial blows due to government restrictions.
He said there is “light at the end of the tunnel” for the local hospitality and retail sectors, as more people moving to the city means more customers when stores and restaurants eventually open their spaces to greater capacities than what is currently allowed.
A gateway community improvement plan program, incentives for new businesses wanting to come to Welland, has generated more than $338 million in investment since 2015, also creating and retaining 600 jobs, said Munday. The city also has CIP initiatives for brownfields and downtown.
One of the companies that took advantage of the gateway CIP incentives is Kit Steel, a rebar fabrication facility that will house up to 19 full-time employees in a 1,115-square-metre plant on Downs Drive in the River Road Industrial Park. Ground was broken on the site in November.
On another lot in the park, a multi-unit industrial building with spaces ranging from 140 to 520 square metres will see construction start this year, said DeChellis.
The park has two spots remaining — a six-hectare piece of land as well as a four-hectare parcel, which DeChellis hopes will be sold by the end of the year.
DeChellis also touted a vodka and whisky distillery coming to city just to the west of Welland International Flatwater Centre as a project to celebrate, along with Fonthill Lumber on Woodlawn Road, a three-building site that will generate up to 75 jobs.
At the Enterprise Industrial Park along Highway 140, the last remaining site has been sold to Upper Canada Railway, a company that manufactures freight cars and passenger coaches for the locomotive industry.
There are plenty of options to get exercise and enjoy the outdoors coming to Welland.
A multi-use sports park being built by Empire Homes adjacent to the flatwater centre as well as a splash pad made possible by Canadian Tire Jumpstart will have a total price tag of about $3.2 million.
A master trail strategy is underway seeking public engagement, and the boat rental program’s new home near the Lincoln Docks along the recreational canal is expected to open this summer.
“We expect this to generate a lot of public interest to allow Wellanders to access the waterfront,” said Zorbas.
Millar said the city “faces challenges related to aging infrastructure,” noting that $37 million in approved work is set to take place this year.
This includes 8.5 kilometres of new road, 7.5 kilometres of concrete sidewalk, five kilometres of watermain replacements, three kilometres of new storm sewers, and 4.2 kilometres of sanitary sewer replacement.
Eckhart also shared details about Welland Fire and Emergency Services’ two new fire halls under construction, which have a combined price tag of about $20 million.
