Top Ten Reasons to Choose Ajax
10) Transportation Infrastructure - When You Are Here, You Are Everywhere.
Ajax is located within the Greater Toronto Area, a region of over 5 million people that generates more than 20% of Canada’s GDP. We are also within a single day’s drive of 140 million customers who represent over one-third of the North American market. Now, that’s access! We are within 45 minutes drive of Canada’s largest airport Pearson International Airport, and within 20 minutes of the Oshawa Municipal Airport. Our businesses and commuters enjoy immediate east-west road access via Highway 401, Canada’s premier transportation corridor, highlighted by Ontario’s newest interchange at Salem Rd.
9) Skilled Workforce - Ajax People. The Ajax Difference.
Ultimately, business is about people. Ajax is a community that is highly skilled and educated. Approximately 57 per cent of our local labour force of 41,600 has some post-secondary education. Local industry has access to a skilled regional labour force of 3 million. Our regionally competitive wage rates make Ajax attractive for employees at every level and help to ensure a supply of skilled and qualified workers for businesses in the community.
8) Educated Workforce - Building the Minds of the Future.
The new University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) is only minutes away from Ajax. UOIT opened their doors in September 2003 and revolutionized the way businesses will grow and prosper in our community. With a mandate of being market focused, the university has successfully forged partnerships with area businesses focused on improving productivity and the commercialization of technology. A recently example of this is GM’s Beacon Project where the company will create a new Automotive Centre of Excellence (ACE) at UOIT to better link participating automotive companies, suppliers, universities, researchers and students in the area of automotive innovation and engineering. We are also within easy commuting distance to three other universities and six colleges.
7) Salem Road - Change and Interchange.
A remarkable amount of economic investment has created a modern, vibrant community and a robust local economy. A key driver of this growth has been the construction of a new Highway 401 interchange at Salem Road. This new interchange, along with the future construction of a high speed link between Highways 401 and 407, provides immediate access to 1,000 acres of prime employment lands - the Carruthers Creek Employment Properties. The Carruthers Creek properties represent the largest release of prestigious employment property in the history of Ajax. Millions of dollars of new business investment has been announced including a Hilton Garden Inn, Picov Slot Facility and 1.3 million sq. ft. Loblaws Distribution Centre that can all be attributed to the opening of the Salem Road Interchange.
6) Available Land & Low Development Charge Rates - Value for Your Business Dollar.
A competitive business community is only as strong as the services that support it. In Ajax, we pride ourselves in delivering quality business services at very competitive rates. In comparison to the regional average, our commercial/industrial land prices and lease rates are lower. So too are our development fees, which means that the overall cost of doing business in Ajax is lower than the regional average. It all adds up to quality services at competitive costs
5) ISO 9001 Certified - Standing Out From the Crowd.
Our ISO 9001-2000 registration is proof that Ajax is a forward thinking municipality. We understand the needs of the business community, because we face them too. Our quality accreditation was the first step in proving to businesses that we are dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in customer service. Ours is a tradition of public openness and accountability. Our municipal staff are dedicated to quality and reliability when serving our customers.
4) High Standard of Living - A Lifestyle Apart.
In Ajax, we enjoy a quality of community life that sets us apart. It is a distinction that is both well deserved and highly valued. Our recreational opportunities are superb. Residents and visitors can enjoy our five golf courses, Picov Downs - Ontario’s only quarter horse race-track and future slot facility or stroll along the magnificent and pristine Lake Ontario waterfront and Greenwood Conservation Area. Ajax also offers retail shopping experiences at the 1 million square foot Durham Centre to our unique retail areas such as our Village shopping area that attracts visitors from across the region. The Town is also home to the Ajax-Pickering Health Centre which is currently undergoing a $59 million expansion and redevelopment.
3) Booming Rate of Construction - Unparalleled Growth.
Ajax’s construction value has increased dramatically over the past few years. In particular, Industrial costruction activity has skyrocketed to $102.4M in 2006 from 3.4M in 2005.
2) Strategy for Growth - Partnering for the Future.
In April 2005, the Town launched a new three year Economic Development Strategy. The strategy titled "Partnering for the Future" will focus on four key principles for growing the local economy. These four principles are building economic development related partnerships, development and diversification of the Ajax employment base, transportation improvements to support economic development and tourism development.
1) The Ajax Economic Development Team - Here to Serve You!
The Ajax Economic Development Team is here to serve you. We are a group of professional Economic Developers whose goal is to help attract, retain and grow businesses here in Ajax. The Economic Development Office's Services range from Site Selection Assistance to Film Liaison. We strongly encourage you to Contact the Economic Development Office for any of your business or investment questions or needs.
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