Portage La Prairie continues to offer the best industrial-land prices in Manitoba: free. But there have been no takers on the 15-year-old deal.
The purpose of the incentive, started in 1998, is to offer existing land within the city-owned McMillan Industrial Park at no cost for the purpose of new building construction and the creation of new jobs. In total, approximately 550 acres have been designated for industrial and industrial reserve use in two areas located on the northwest and northeast sides of this city of 13,000, 75 kilometres west of Winnipeg.
Of the industrially designated land, over 200 available acres is located in the industrial park, which houses the majority of the city's larger industrial entities.
Over the years, Portage La Prairie has been successful in its attempts to attract industry. Strategically situated in the centre of the continent astride major east-west transportation routes, it can accommodate additional industries, particularly those based in food processing.
Recently, the city has constructed an access road to the industrial park.
The McMillan Industrial Park is already home to some major companies, including McCain Foods.
A city spokesman said no one has ever taken up the offer of free land, but the city plans to promote the incentive more widely.
from Western Investor November 2013
