Partner Spotlight: Prescott
The Town of Prescott is one of seven partner municipalities for the St. Lawrence Corridor Economic Development Commission. With their strategic location and easy access to major markets, Prescott carries advantages that other locations don’t have and for a fraction of the price.
A Location That Works on Multiple Levels
Prescott has the 401 running through it, a major railline to connect it to Toronto and Montreal, and is just six kilometres away from the Port of Johnstown which offers deepwater access to the St. Lawrence Seaway. The town sits one hundred kilometres south of Ottawa, three hundred and thirty kilometres east of Toronto and two hundred and eight from Montreal. Businesses that need to reach multiple major markets rarely find geography this cooperative. Not at this price point. Seven of the top ten American markets fall within practical reach via the Ogdensburg-Prescott border crossing, which matters most to businesses moving large volumes of freight in both directions.
The Industrial Park
The Prescott North End Industrial Park holds about 16 hectares of commercial and industrial land that’s already been zoned and has direct access to the 401. That means no rezoning or infrastructure to deal with before you can get your business up and running. North of the 401 the town also holds an additional 30 hectares of development land in reserve allowing plenty of room for future growth. Site selectors who have been comparing prices in the GTA will note savings of 25% on average and even closer to 30% less when comparing to sites just across the border in New York.
A Community That’s Investing in Itself
The Town of Prescott has been exploding in development in recent years. 2024 brought the first branded hotel, the Quality Inn & Suites, there is a Food Basics epxpansion currently in the site planning stage, and more currently in the pipeline. While none of these may be strictly “industrial development wins” they matter alot during the site selection process. A business isn’t just looking for available land but also where will their employees be able to live, are their amenities nearby, and whether the community still has room for growth. With Prescott’s cost of living running lower than much of the province, employers have a real retention advantage right off the bat.
How SLCEDC and the Town Work Together
Get in touch with Dana Valentyne (Manager of Economic Development & Tourism) at Prescott’s Economic Development office. She will tell you what’s available that matches your needs and what the approval process will look like. SLCEDC works alongside the economic development office to offer regional support to businesses including site selection, incentive programs, mentorship opportunities, supplier introductions, and more. Between these two pools of experts any business or entrepreneur considering Prescott doesn’t have to map out the process on their own.
Get Started
If you’re an entrepreneur or business looking to start or expand get in touch with the SLCEDC or the Prescott Economic Development office today and let’s discuss your businesses future.
