oct-2017

212 213 want to locate in our ‘employment area.’ Those incentives could be Tax Incremental Financing, which is tax deferral; it could be exemption of development charges and fees; it can also allow flexibility in terms of acquiring and servicing land.” That employment area of which Allore speaks - hundreds of acres of Port Perry - is currently in the midst of a major overhaul. “We are, just now, re- constructing the roadway that services that area, and bringing in municipal water,” Rowett reports. The land will also be the recipient of newly-laid fiber optic cable for broadband internet service. “We’ve gone from one of the lowest in connec- tivity for broadband internet to, now, one of the fastest speeds in Canada,” he continues. “And we’re developing options for the road network, lot lay- out, and servicing to attract large industries to Scugog.We are very fortunate that we are within close proximity to Toronto, and we have signifi- cant regional and provincial highway structures - Highway 407, which is an electronic toll road, just opened a couple of years ago, ten minutes to the south of us. That is a six-lane, provincial highway that connects across the top end of Toronto, so the access to that corridor, and connecting routes to the 401 corridor, is very attractive for industry.” One company that dozens of cities across North America are hoping to attract is Amazon, the giant corporation that recently announced that it is searching for a second headquarters. Mayor Rowett would love to see an Ontario contender in the running. “It’s a very big opportunity for any city or region,” he states. “And I would suggest that our Region of Durham is working closely with other regions around the Toronto area, looking at SCUGOG, ONTARIO parcels that are attractive.We have a 100- plus acre parcel of land that would be very attractive to ecommerce or manufacturing to set up substantial infrastructure to house its employees. It’s within close proximity to an international airport, transit, and all that. It all depends on the weight Amazon gives to, say, transit and connectivity. But it would be beneficial to any municipality within the area of Toronto with that amount of jobs.” In fact, Rowett believes that Scugog is just the place for any business to locate. “We’re a very attractive place for industries to set up shop because we have that ‘work, live, and play’ environment,”he asserts.“Everything is within close proximity, or within a 45-minute drive to downtown Toronto. But you have the lifestyle of a more relaxed environment be- cause you don’t have the hustle and bustle, or choking commuter traffic to get to and from work.We’re in the Greater Toronto Area, but we’re removed enough in an isolated town- ship that has the feel of countryside living.” Scugog’s charms include a thriving and his- torical downtown.“It’s much like it was in the late 1800s,”Rowett says.“And we have a very unique funding partnership with local busi- ness owners.We encourage them and we help subsidize them to keep their facades up-to-date and improved. Many shop own- ers are very proud of their businesses.” Scugogs’s downtown also is one of the few communities in Ontario that adjoins a vibrant waterfront area. At Lake Scu- gog, there is a community park, a marina, a library, a boardwalk, a public pool and splash pad, as well as shops and restau- HydroOne.com/FlipTheSwitch This is the new Hydro One. We’re listening. Partners in Powerful Communities Here’s just a few of the ways we’ve improved this year to better serve our customers: • Advocating on behalf of our customers for the Fair Hydro Plan and Distribution Rate Protection • Opening our Call Centre on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. • Eliminating residential security deposits and returning the money back to customers • Our Get Local team is visiting communities all across Ontario to answer your questions in person. Find out more: HydroOne.com/GetLocal Hydro One is changing the way we do business. Connecting to our customers at every opportunity, listening to your concerns and making changes where it matters most. We’re making changes to serve you better. Business View_3.6x10_Hydro One 17-10-02 12:38 PM Page 1