Township of Woolwich

Welcome to the Township of Woolwich. Providing everything from fiber optics to farm fresh delicacies, Woolwich is the economic cornerstone of Northern Waterloo Region. The fusion of Mennonite work ethic with the entrepreneurial spirit Waterloo Region is known for, has allowed this township to achieve success in investment attraction. With over 15 major companies headquartered in the township, and many more locating branch operations in the area, Woolwich is poised to meet the requirements of any investor. Internationally renowned manufacturers such as Trim Masters Inc, Trylon TSF, Sanyo Machine Works, Chemtura and Elmira Pet Products Ltd. have successfully located in Woolwich and continue to thrive.

"Industrial development and investment opportunities in Woolwich, part of Canada's Technology Triangle, are economically attractive and prudent. Access to talent, proximity to market and development locations make us a prime location for investment."

David Brenneman, CAO, Woolwich Township

Quick Facts
 

Population (2006)	19,658
Unemployment Rate (2001)	2.8%
Highways	Hwy 7, 85, 8 with access to the 401
Building Permit Fees (2007)	Industrial $0.40/sq.ft Commercial $0.45/sq.ft
Property Tax Rates (2007)	Industrial 4.62% Commercial/Office 3.63%
Development Charges (2008)	Township $1.73/sq.ft Region $4.65/sq.ft Total $6.38/sq.ft

Strategic Location

Woolwich Township's southwestern Ontario location is within a day's drive of markets 130 million people strong. The township provides easy access to the 401, Canada's most important transportation corridor. The Region of Waterloo International Airport, located in Woolwich Township, offers daily service to Detroit, which provides service to international destinations. Canada’s busiest airport, Toronto's Pearson International Airport, is approximately one hour away.

Development Opportunities:

Along with organizations dedicated to the region as a whole, Woolwich runs its own economic development department, making it easier to gain site information with less red tape. The Township has available land parcels ranging from 1.5 to 30 acres. Its business parks in Elmira and new land developments in Breslau are attractive opportunities for anyone interested in Waterloo Region. Industrial/commercial areas in Woolwich include South Breslau, Bast Place (south of St. Jacobs), Stockyards (south of St. Jacobs), Shantz Station, and Nelson Monuments (west of Breslau).

All of Woolwich Township is equipped with fiber optic connectivity. The Townships investment friendly attitude and competitive Development Charges (DC) invite your enquiry. It is not only the cost that is attractive; old Mennonite ideals have mixed with cutting edge technology to use wind turbines to generate a portion of the Township’s electricity needs, resulting in a more environmentally friendly energy source.

Rich Traditions and a Vibrant Lifestyle

While the land comprising Woolwich originally belonged to the Huron followed by the Mohawk Indians, the area was eventually purchased by the second "German Company" of Pennsylvania. This enterprising group of German Mennonites established a thriving community and gained recognition as an official township in 1816. The landscape is dotted with small communities such as West Montrose and Winterbourne and larger communities including Elmira and St. Jacobs. No trip to Waterloo Region is complete without first visiting the St. Jacobs Farmer’s Market, boasting over 600 vendors and featuring live entertainment by buskers and other outdoor performers. Every year Elmira plays host to the Elmira Maple Syrup Festival, the world’s largest, where local merchants show off their products and support their community. These attractions are an excellent example of the way that community and commerce come together in the township to create and experience that both captures the culture and entertainment.

Recent Developments

2005 saw some exciting new developments in Woolwich, particularly in the Elmira area. Food retailer, Sobeys, announced the construction of $3 million 6510 m2 outlet. Construction also began on a 1644 m2 facility for Next Energy, a geothermal alternative energy company. Emerson Electric also saw the opening of their new 6412 m2 facility in 2005.

The Township is processing site plan applications for the following:

• a 100 room Holiday Inn Express to be located in the Stockyards Industrial Commercial Area
• a bio-energy operation to be located on approximately 1.5 acres of land at the end of Martin's Lane in Elmira
• a Canadian Tire retail store and gas bar located at the south end of Elmira off Arthur Street South

Approval has been given for the following developments:

• development of the lands on Farmer's Market Road in the Stockyards Industrial Commercial Area for a new 134,000 square foot Walmart scheduled to open in January 2009
• approval of Donway Court in the Elmira Industrial area for five small industrial lots. Currently one of the parcels is being developed with a truck wash operation by Smurk Inc.
• redevelopment of the lands at the intersection of Arthur Street North and Church Street East for a new 13,400 square foot Shoppers Drug Mart scheduled to open in October 2008
• The Township is also constructing a new recreation complex in excess of $20 million in Elmira. The new facility is scheduled to open in fall 2009 and will include twin ice pads, multiple pools, fitness rooms and meeting rooms

Success Stories

Trim Masters Inc. has been located in Woolwich Township since 2002. Since then it has flourished into one of the highest quality producers of car interiors, and has been recognized by J.D. Power & Associates for their fine craftsmanship for Lexus RX330 interiors. Mainly supplying Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada’s Cambridge plant, Trim Masters has mirrored that plant’s success and is planning to expand its current facility and workforce. They currently employ 330 at their Elmira location. Globally, Trim Masters employs over 3,000 employees and generates over $600 million annually. Truly, Trim Masters is one of the world’s leading suppliers of automotive interior trim, and the steady growth of its operations in Woolwich is a testament to this.

While Chemtura which has a plant headquartered in Elmira (a small town in Woolwich Township), has had many different names including Uniroyal and Crompton Chemical, its performance has remained constant, with earnings for the 2nd quarter of 2005 exceeding those in 2004 by $15.9 million. In July 2005, Crompton Chemical completed its merger with Great Lakes Chemical to become Chemtura. Chemtura is now the 4th largest publicly traded U.S. specialty chemicals company and the world’s largest plastics additive company. Its wide variety of chemical and plastic additives has resulted in company revenues of over $3.7 billion. The Elmira location specializes in performance chemicals, along with elastomers, royalene, urethane and rubber chemicals.