Business Advantage

Strategic Location

• Close proximity to St. John’s makes it very attractive location for business and settlement. The closest communities are Bay Bulls and Witless Bay, which are both within 20 minutes drive from St. John's.
• Access to amenities, business services, schools as well as post-secondary education and health facilities.
• The Zone has ice free ports and close proximity to fishing grounds.
• Close to offshore exploration and development activities.
• Strong land, sea and air transportation linkages.

World Class Educational Institutes and Research Centres

• Has easy access to many post secondary institutions and research centres.
• Memorial University is the largest university in Atlantic Canada, home to 17,000 students annually including 2,300 graduates and 1,000 international students. It is home to innovation research in science, medicine, social sciences, engineering, education and business.
• College of the North Atlantic is the largest post-secondary educational and skills training centre in Atlantic Canada, has 20,000 students annually and offers almost 400 programs in sciences, trades and technology.
• Has access to a number of private and public research such as:
  
  • Memorial University of Newfoundland
  • College of North Atllantic
  • INCO Innovation Centre
  • Marine Institute
  • Mining Technology Centre of Excellence
  • Ocean Science Centre
  • Research and Development Council

Attractive Municipal Business Environment

• Has low cost business real estate and office space, all with easy access to water, energy and communications and transportation networks.
• Economic Diversification and Growth Enterprises program (EDGE) that provides long term corporate tax holidays to new and expanding business locating in Newfoundland and Labrador up to 15 years in most areas of the province
• Tax credit programs such as Business Attraction Fund, Oil & Gas Manufacturing and Services Export Development Fund, Direct Equity Tax Credit, Small Business Tax Credit, Scientific R&D Tax Credit and the Film and Video Tax Credit

Highly Skilled Workforce

The region has an increasing pool of skilled and educated people. The employment rate for the 2006 for ages 18 to 64 was 78% compared to 76% in 2000.

Infrastructure Availability

Has modern facilities and services.

World Class Tourism Attraction

• The region is rapidly becoming the next great provincial toursim destination
• Attractions include archeological sites, ecological reserves, world-class hiking trail as well as the viewing of marine life, icebergs and beautiful coastlines.

Business Friendly Community

• Has 19 vibrant towns with diversified business sectors including manufacturing, sevices, natural and heritage resources, tourism, marine transshipment, energy and techonology
• Active business leaders and commuity volunteers
• Safe neighborhoods