At a Glance
10 great reasons for investing in Southwest Saskatchewan
1. Agricultural Conditions that Result in World-Class Quality Products
Renowned for its agricultural innovations and excellence, agricultural products account for a large percent of southwest Saskatchewan’s regional GDP (Gross Domestic Product), and the agricultural sector employs approximately 30% of the region’s workforce.
2. Cost Advantage
The cost of doing business in southwest Saskatchewan is remarkably competitive. The region has a great advantage over the United States and most parts of Canada in regards to the costs of doing business. The southwest can boast factors such as low cost of living, competitive tax structures, reasonably priced labour, and a central geographical location that provides access to markets throughout North America.
3. Dedication to Positive Business Environment and Governance
Many economic development initiatives are underway to ensure continued growth for the region’s business base. Business growth in the region is stronger than that of the provincial average. Action Swift Current, a business retention and expansion initiative in one of the region’s largest community, won several national and international awards for excellence in economic development. Also, Action Southwest, another award winning initiative, is viewed as a groundbreaking economic development model that is causing a positive paradigm shift towards concepts such as strategic alliances, business networks, and effective regional governance.
4. Reputation for Innovative Entrepreneurial Culture
Many globally marketed products and innovations are developed in the southwest. In fact, many leaders around the world associate the province of Saskatchewan with innovation and hard work. For instance, an internationally successful agricultural device called the Bail-Stooker was invented in southwest Saskatchewan.
The region’s citizens are committed to idea generation and business success. The City of Swift Current, for example, won a national award for its Home-Based Business Friendly Environment.
5. Market Access and Transportation
Canada’s #1 Trans-Canada Highway connects the region with Alberta to the West and Manitoba (through Saskatchewan’s Capital City: Regina) to the East. Within a day’s truck haul is a market of 60 million consumers, and within two days is a market of over 270 million. Alternatively, numerous railroads connect the region with the rest of Canada and North America.
6. High Quality of Life
The United Nations ranks Saskatchewan as the best province in Canada in which to live; and according to the United Nations Human Development Index (HDI), Saskatchewan is one of the best regions in the world to live. Additionally, Swift Current has been rated one of the top ten best places to live in Canada.
The region has numerous recreational opportunities, including golf, provincial and national parks, fishing and gaming, and an array of sporting and cultural events and opportunities. Also important is the availability of quality schools, post-secondary colleges, health care and social services, and affordable residential and commercial real estate.
7. Economic Drivers and Regional Competitive Advantages
The leading sectors in the region include Energy, Manufacturing, Agriculture, and Tourism. The region boasts a strong and growing oil/gas sector with high employment levels, as well as one of the largest wind-turbine energy fields in Canada. The manufacturing sector is recognized as having a high potential for growth, and tourism, one of the fastest growing sectors in Saskatchewan, presents numerous opportunities in the southwest.
8. Relevant Education & Training
The Cypress Hills Regional College, with locations throughout the region, offers industry specific training and adjusts focus according to the needs of the region; accounting for the region’s low unemployment rate.
9. Adaptable and Employable Work force
Saskatchewan is ranked as having the most educated workforce in Canada. The southwest region of the province has one of the lowest unemployment rates in Canada, meaning that its citizens are trained in the leading sectors and ready to work.
10. Available Finance and Investment
The Southwest Centre for Entrepreneurial Development, the Community Futures Development Corporations, the Regional Economic Development Authorities, and the various Credit Unions and Chartered Banks are just a few of the organizations that are dedicated to providing access to funding for business ventures.
Action Southwest broke the norm by becoming a medium that facilitates many community building initiatives and economic development projects in the region in which businesses, organizations, and community leaders can invest in.
