As a neighbor to the larger city of London, the municipality also benefits from proximity to major transportation routes, making it an even more appealing choice for families and businesses. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, LOW TAXES, AND BUSINESS GROWTH With a prime location, and a progressive approach, Thames Centre offers an ideal environment for business growth.“We have four interchanges along Canada’s busiest highway, and we directly neighbour the London International Airport. We have industrial lands, both near the airport as well as along Highway 401, and Council is working towards creating additional capacity for job creation there,” Barrick relays. He notes that the municipality has over 1,000 acres of industrial land available for development and is working to attract new industries. “We are around the City of London and its industrial areas, and we’re working in partnership with London Economic Development to generate interest and awareness about the opportunities that exist,” he continues. With the recent addition of the Volkswagen battery plant in the nearby city of St. Thomas, the municipality is also anticipating interest from supporting industries. Recent successes include the establishment of Ideal Logistics, a pharmaceutical warehousing and distribution facility, and the expansion of ADS Piping, an international company. Pink Precast, manufacturers of prefabricated stairs, is another accomplished Thames Centre company, with a North American presence. “We recently struck an Economic Development Advisory Committee within the municipality to engage with the current business owners, and also to try and see how much we can expand on our economic development base,” conveys Mayor McMillan. “The tax burden is on residential properties right now, and it would be nice to expand that, so that some of that burden comes off.” Notably,Thames Centre has the lowest property taxes in the region, a draw for residents and businesses. Additionally, the newly established Economic Development Advisory Committee has recommended a Community Improvement Plan featuring eight financial incentive programs, including a tax 101 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 04 THAMES CENTRE, ON
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