March 2017 | Business View Magazine

172 173 Tecumseh, Ontario ernment just spent $1.4 billion for a brand new link to the U.S., the Rt. Hon. Herb Gray Parkway, and a new international crossing, the Gordie Howe International Bridge, is anticipated to begin construction in 2018. Two of Tecumseh’s major economic drivers are agribusiness and light manufacturing. “We have a food processing company, here, Bondu- elle, that’s the biggest of their seven plants in Canada and the biggest agri-food business in Tecumseh” says McNamara. “It contracts with about 450 family farms to send their vegeta- bles to market, packaged under various labels including Green Giant, for major food chains throughout North America.” “We also have a significant industrial compo- nent which comprises primarily, the tool and die, and mold sector, which are world-class, leading edge companies providing support and Tier One supplies to automotive manufac- turing, agricultural, aerospace and biomedical industries,” adds Tony Haddad, Tecumseh’s Chief Administrative Officer. “They took a hit during the Recession, but, right now, they are booming. They’re expanding and that’s a good indication for both the local and global economies. So, Tecumseh does have that rare blend of having a rather significant industrial component in our assessment base, as compared to just being limited to residential and agricultural lands.” There are two significant employment areas within the Town– the Oldcastle and Sylvestre Business Parks. The Oldcastle Business Park is a major regional employment center, containing over 350 industrial establishments, located in the southwest portion of the Town adjacent the City of Windsor and is one of the Essex-Windsor region’s most significant areas for manufactur- ing. The Sylvestre Business Park is located in the northerly settlement area of the Town and pos- sesses a mix of approximately 40 industrial and commercial establishments. Tecumseh is also growing its residential sector at a rapid rate, and there is a real high demand for all types of homes, apartments, and condo- miniums. Its housing costs are among the lowest in Ontario and Haddad says that the makeup of the community and the amenities offered in Te- cumseh make the Town attractive to both young families, as well as retirees. “Young professionals that are going out on their own, are buying real estate to start their own homesteads,” he states. “They’re relocating back from attending universi- ties out of town and starting their careers in the area. And many are finding the Tecumseh area attractive as a retirement destination because of excellent real estate values, access to water- front properties, estate-sized lots, great weather, access to the U.S., access to an international air- port, and access to the highway system, as well as a generally lower cost of living.” McNamara believes that the influx of newcom- ers is largely attributable to the high level of services provided to the community, as reflected by the 99 percent of Tecumseh residents who said in a recent survey that they were satisfied