sectors along the Highway 3 corridor, creating a resilient economic base that weathered recent economic shocks. “Tillsonburg is a manufacturing town. Even as manufacturing’s share of the broader North American economy has shifted over time, manufacturing in Tillsonburg continues to thrive as a robust and significant component of our local economy,” says Panschow.” A full one-third of our workforce is still employed in manufacturing. That’s manufacturing jobs from the production floor through management, quality control, engineering, and so forth. We tend to be fairly heavily weighted on the engineering side with many of our companies.” This manufacturing concentration, significantly higher than Ontario’s provincial average of 12%, has evolved since the 2009 recession. The town has rebounded with a more diverse manufacturing portfolio that now includes food processing, building materials, and a more diversified automotive parts production sector. “We’ve gone from about one food processing plant 20 years ago to approaching six or seven now. Our largest one is currently under construction—Schep’s Bakeries is building a 190,000 square foot cookie manufacturing facility, expanding their presence in the region” Panschow notes. The town’s industrial land development strategy has seen remarkable success. The Van Norman Innovation Park (VIP) sold out its first phase in less than a year during 2021, prompting town council to approve a second phase that will bring 140 acres of industrial land to market over the next few years, further strengthening Tillsonburg’s position along the Highway 3 corridor. This strategic expansion demonstrates the town’s commitment to fostering economic growth and attracting diverse businesses to the region. The first release of industrial land in Phase 2 of the Van Norman Innovation Park offers 15 acres in flexible 5-acre parcels, fully serviced with essential utilities. Strategically located along Highway 3 143 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 05 TILLSONBURG, ON
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