Media Release

Economic Development Winnipeg Inc. Once Again Named One of Canada's Top 10 Economic Development Groups by Site Selection Magazine

September 1, 2015: Winnipeg, MB – For the second time in three years, Economic Development Winnipeg Inc. (EDW) has been identified as one of Canada’s top 10 economic development groups by Site Selection magazine in its ninth annual Canada’s Best Locations awards and rankings. This recognition is based on April 2014 to March 2015 project data derived from the magazine’s proprietary New Plant Database—which counts projects according to specific criteria related to new construction—and the publication’s own research initiatives.

“Site Selection magazine’s acknowledgment of EDW’s continuing work to attract and retain businesses and to secure investment is very gratifying, and we’re pleased to have earned a spot alongside our Canadian peers for the second time since 2013,” said Marina R. James, president and CEO of Economic Development Winnipeg Inc. “Winnipeg is currently experiencing pronounced growth and renewal, and this kind of respected third‐party validation of the city’s economic development activity comes as a welcome testament to our collective efforts to keep the momentum going.”

Specific criteria used in the selection process include the following:

From April 1, 2014, to March 31, 2015, EDW—through its YES! Winnipeg initiative—proactively sought out business investment attraction and local expansion. During this time, a total of nine companies that turned to YES! Winnipeg for assistance made the decision to invest here. When their operations reach maturity, these companies anticipate employing more than 600 of the approximately 1,000 jobs created in Winnipeg over the designated period.

Selected businesses that benefitted from YES! Winnipeg’s efforts and that satisfied Site Selection magazine’s decision criteria for its latest Canada’s Best Locations report include Price Industries’ $23‐million expansion expected to create 175 new jobs over five years; Canada Goose’s ongoing investment in its Winnipeg operations, which saw its local staff complement grow to 390 permanent positions in 2014; and Canadian Tire Corporation’s Cloud Nine Digital Innovation Centre, a $50‐million, 28,000‐square‐foot site that will see 80 new technical positions created.

Also highlighted in the report are various programs and initiatives that proved impactful during the allotted time frame, among them are the efforts of CentrePort Canada, a strategic partner of EDW, in raising awareness of Winnipeg’s competitive advantages and the benefits of an inland port of this scale; the federal government’s $5‐million pledge to the Orthopaedic Innovation Centre to develop an Advanced Digital Manufacturing Hub; and cumulative results to date of the Composites Innovation Centre, which has facilitated more than 300 projects with 199 industry partners and 40 government agencies since its inception in 2003.

“We make sure Canada is covered in every issue of Site Selection, from provincial and Canada‐U.S. border updates to coverage of new projects in our industry reports,” said Mark Arend, editor in chief of Site Selection magazine. “The annual Canada’s Best Locations feature sheds additional light on Canada’s many location options for corporate site selectors. We salute the provinces and communities that made this year’s rankings.”

The complete Canada's Best Locations article, entitled “Wonderlands,” appears in the September 2015 edition of Site Selection and online at http://siteselection.com/issues/2015/sep/canadas-best-locations.cfm. Also showcased are Site Selection's annual ranking of Top U.S. utilities in economic development and reports on global infrastructure, logistics and rural economic development. As well, the issue contains international, regional and state spotlights; industry reports; and several of the magazine's popular investment profiles.

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About Economic Development Winnipeg Inc.
Economic Development Winnipeg Inc. (EDW) is the lead economic development agency for Winnipeg. EDW facilitates investment promotion and attraction, capacity building, tourism development, marketing and communications, and the management of market information. By applying competitive intelligence and by fostering relationships with industry leaders, government officials and community stakeholders, potential opportunities and innovation drivers are evaluated to develop key industries and define future economic growth. EDW supports targeted sector, community and social development, and promotes Winnipeg’s diverse economy and high quality of life.

EDW leads global investment attraction, and local business retention and expansion, with its YES! Winnipeg initiative. YES! Winnipeg’s business development team assists in the creation and retention of jobs, identifies opportunities that attract new investment, focuses on expansion and helps local entrepreneurs launch new commercial ventures.

Tourism Winnipeg is the city’s official destination marketing organization tasked with increasing visitation and delivering the best possible visitor experience. A division of Economic Development Winnipeg Inc., Tourism Winnipeg’s mission is to facilitate a healthy, prosperous, responsible and fully integrated tourism industry that enhances Winnipeg’s economic growth through the acquisition of meetings, conventions, sports and events, group travel and leisure tourism.

www.economicdevelopmentwinnipeg.com

About Site Selection Magazine
Site Selection magazine, published by Conway Inc., delivers expansion planning information to 48,000 executives of fast‐growing firms. The senior publication in the development field, Site Selection is also available via Site Selection Online (www.siteselection.com). The publication also publishes or copublishes e‐newsletters, including The Site Selection Dispatch and its Online Insider series; the Life Sciences Report, Aerospace Report and Energy Report; The Global FDI Report; TrustBelt.com; and the OnSITE Travel blog.

Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Conway since 1954 has been a trusted advisor to corporations,economic development organizations and investment promotion agencies around the world. Conway owns and manages London‐based Conway Events, an organizer of worldwide FDI events; Berlin‐based FDI advisory firm Terrain Consulting; and New York‐based Conway PR & Marketing, a leading PR and lead‐generation firm. In February 2015, Conway formed an exclusive partnership with Silverlode Consulting Corp. as Conway's corporate location advisory partner in the United States. Conway also manages the Industrial Asset Management Council and the Global FDI Association. Conway in 2013 launched a custom publishing division that has published economic development guides for territories that include Texas, California, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Wyoming, Iowa, Mississippi, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Conway employs over 80 people in 10 offices in seven countries.

For more information, please contact:

Croft Petersmeyer
Director, Marketing & Communications
Economic Development Winnipeg Inc.
Phone: 204.954.1961 Cell: 204.898-4866
Email: croft@economicdevelopmentwinnipeg.com

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