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126 127 MiddlesexCounty, Ontario MIDDLESEX COUNTY, ONTARIO WE APPRECIATE YOUR BUSINESS! M iddlesex County, in the heart of Southwestern Ontario, has it all: ideal location, amenities, busi- ness opportunities, scenic beauty, and an excep- tional quality of life that’s enjoyed by all in this vibrant and diverse collection of communities. The County consists of eight municipalities (total population around 74,000) that surround the city of London (home to over 380,000 people). Besides being nicely situated in proximity to that urban center, Middlesex County sits at the intersec- tion of two major thoroughfares –Highways 401 and 402 – and is one hour from the access to Port Huron, Michigan, and within a two-hour drive of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). All this makes it a prime hub for transportation and logistics. The great location is definitely spurring development interest.While the County does not own any business parks, per se, the local municipalities and private individual in- vestors own eight business parks that are promoted as part of the Middlesex County investment strategy. One of those parks, publicly owned by the municipality of Strathroy-Cara- doc, is a rarity; a provincially certified site, which means it is shovel-ready for investment by Ministry standards. Ontario has a rigorous 13-point system to be met by business park