Pam McCallum, economic development officer for Arborg-Bifrost (the latter is the rural municipality), said the town's population has grown by 40 per cent over the last five years. That has meant houses are selling almost immediately after being put up for sale - and for higher prices, too - and rental properties have waiting lists.
She said the town needs additional housing, a hotel, more campground sites and a more diversified base of retailers to keep its growing number of residents happy. She said in addition to Winnipeg entrepreneurs, she's also hoping to attract money to the "Growing Arborg" campaign from former residents who have moved away.
Nearly 150 families have moved to Arborg since 2007, emigrating from such far-away places as Bolivia, Paraguay, Belize, Mexico, the Philippines, Germany and Russia.
To ensure they don't pack up and move back home if they encounter any difficulty, Arborg officials make sure to help the newcomers cut through the red tape associated with moving to another country, such as getting a driver's licence and a health card, qualifying for Canada Revenue Agency's child tax benefit and opening a bank account.
from Western Investor, January 2011
