Media Release

Economic Development Winnipeg Inc. Chosen as One of Canada's Top 10 Economic Development Groups for Second Straight Year

September 7, 2016: Winnipeg, MB – For the third time in four years, Economic Development Winnipeg Inc. (EDW) has been identified as one of Canada’s top 10 economic development groups by Site Selection magazine in its tenth annual Canada’s Best Locations awards and rankings. This recognition is based on April 2015 to March 2016 corporate end-user facility investment and job-creation data derived from the magazine’s proprietary Conway Projects Database and the publication’s own research.

“EDW continues to play a leading role in attracting investment to Winnipeg, and we’re pleased to have once again earned this coveted accolade from Site Selection magazine for the third time since 2013,” said Dayna Spiring, president and CEO of Economic Development Winnipeg Inc. “I hope this kind of respected third-party validation of the city’s economic development activity generates even more interest from potential investors looking for a one-of-a-kind environment to launch or expand operations.”

Specific criteria used in the selection process include the following:

From April 1, 2015, to March 31, 2016, EDW—through its YES! Winnipeg initiative—proactively sought out business investment attraction and local expansion. During this time, a total of 11 companies that turned to YES! Winnipeg for help made the decision to invest here. When their operations reach maturity, these companies anticipate employing nearly 1,550 people. 

Selected businesses that benefitted from YES! Winnipeg’s efforts and that satisfied Site Selection magazine’s decision criteria for its latest Canada’s Best Locations report include SkipTheDishes’ ongoing expansion, which saw the food-delivery company move into a new 50,000-square-foot office in the Exchange District to facilitate the hiring of hundreds of additional employees; Santorini Dairies’ commencement of operations, which will eventually employ more than 40 locals; and Canada Goose’s continuing investment in Winnipeg via the opening of a second manufacturing facility in the city projected to employ 364 people by March 2017.  

Additional developments and initiatives also factored into the favourable ranking, among them the new $43-million water-treatment plant, reservoir and delivery infrastructure for CentrePort Canada, a strategic partner of EDW; the federal government’s $5-million contribution to the Orthopaedic Innovation Centre to develop an Advanced Digital Manufacturing Hub; the grand opening of CentrePoint, a major commercial development in downtown Winnipeg; and the RBC Convention Centre, which recently unveiled its $180-million makeover to the world, adding 103,900 square feet of new meeting and convention space to the existing 160,000-square-foot facility.

“The annual Canada’s Best Locations feature sheds additional light on Canada’s many location options for corporate site selectors,” said Mark Arend, editor-in-chief of Site Selection magazine. “We salute the provinces and communities that made this year’s rankings.”

The complete Canada's Best Locations article, entitled “Cultivating the Roots of Canadian Innovation,” appears in the September 2016 edition of Site Selection magazine and online at siteselection.com/digitalEdition/2016/sep/. Also showcased in the September issue is the Canadian Competitiveness Award, which goes to the leading province based on data derived from qualifying new corporate facilities and expansions. As well, the magazine ranks the top U.S. utilities in economic development and features state spotlights, industry reports and investment profiles, among other notable highlights.

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About Economic Development Winnipeg Inc.
Economic Development Winnipeg Inc. (EDW) is the lead economic development agency for Winnipeg. EDW facilitates investment promotion and attraction, capacity building, tourism development and the management of market data. By utilizing competitive intelligence and by fostering relationships with industry leaders, government officials and community stakeholders, EDW evaluates potential opportunities and innovation drivers to develop key industries and define opportunities for future economic growth. EDW also supports targeted sector, community and social development, and promotes Winnipeg’s diverse economy and high quality of life.

EDW leads global investment attraction, and local business retention and expansion, with its YES! Winnipeg sales force. YES! Winnipeg’s business development team assists in the creation and retention of jobs, identifies opportunities that attract new investment, focuses on expansion and helps local entrepreneurs launch new commercial ventures.

Tourism Winnipeg is the city’s official destination marketing organization tasked with increasing visitation and delivering the best possible visitor experience. A division of Economic Development Winnipeg Inc., Tourism Winnipeg’s mission is to facilitate a healthy, prosperous, responsible and fully integrated tourism industry that enhances Winnipeg’s economic growth through the acquisition of meetings, conventions, sports and events, group travel and leisure tourism.

www.economicdevelopmentwinnipeg.com

About Site Selection Magazine
Published by Conway Inc., Site Selection magazine delivers expansion planning information to 45,000 executives of fast-growing firms. The senior publication in the development field, Site Selection and its affiliated e-newsletters are also available via Site Selection Online (www.siteselection.com).  Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Conway since 1954 has been a trusted advisor to corporations as well as government economic development and investment promotion agencies around the world. Conway owns and manages Conway Events, Berlin-based FDI Conway Advisory, and New York-based Conway PR & Marketing. Conway also manages the Industrial Asset Management Council. In 2013, Conway launched a custom publishing division. Collectively, the company employs over 80 people in 10 offices in seven countries.

For more information, please contact:

Croft Petersmeyer
Director, Marketing & Communications
Economic Development Winnipeg Inc.
Phone: 204.954.1961 Cell: 204.898-4866
Email: croft@economicdevelopmentwinnipeg.com

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