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South-East New Brunswick

Introduction

What should strike anyone who is considering establishing a company in the South-East region of New Brunswick is the presence of a strong regional economy supported by a fluid, inter-regional and international transportation network. Market access is a key asset of the region and a key asset of businesses located in South-East New Brunswick.

Map of South-East New Brunswick

General Infrastructure

The transportation infrastructure is the solid foundation with which prospective businesses may leverage their assets.

Of course, within this environment, South-East New Brunswick is amid the country’s top bilingual workforce, possesses two reputable universities, community colleges, dynamic manufacturing and tourism industries, specialty sectors such as in the fishing industry, all packaged in a pristine living environment.

In addition, each city and town is in close proximity to the Greater Moncton region and may leverage its assets. A solid workforce, big city amenities, a distribution hub and the presence of Scoudouc industrial park make the South-East all the more attractive for prospective businesses.

Industries

As the industry outlook clearly shows, the Southeast New Brunswick compares well with the province in terms of economic diversity.

The manufacturing sector is relatively stronger in the Southeast in comparison with the rest of the province. This is a dynamic environment within which prospective companies may thrive, compete and grow.
Other sectors that show promise, in absolute terms, they include healthcare, retail trade, construction and educational services.
Additionally a presence in... the professional services, natural resources and transportation and warehousing, could benefit from more attention.
Finally niche areas such as the arts, information and culture are domains where growth is possible, given the amenities and affinities that are already present in the communities of the region.

In short, there is no lack of industry activity in the Southeast. No one doubts of the economic vitality of the region and these findings from Statistics Canada support this case.

Cost Environment

As Greater Moncton has among the lowest operating costs in North America, the Southeast also offers a highly competitive cost environment to its community.

Operating Cost Index*

City	Back Offices/ Call Centres	Mfg. Facilities	Software Dev.
San Jose, CA	118.5	109.1	109.0
New York, NY	116.1	109.2	107.9
San Diego, CA	109.6	103.4	103.4
Boston, MA	108.6	103.7	102.8
Chicago, IL	108.5	101.2	102.0
Atlanta, GA	99.3	97.7	99.0
Phoenix, AZ	97.9	100.1	100.0
Toronto, ON	95.1	94.0	94.8
Vancouver, BC	93.2	97.2	96.0
Moncton, NB	82.0	92.0	92.2

Source: KPMG Competitive Alternatives — The CEO's Guide to International Business Costs, G7-2004 Edition.

* Business costs are expressed as an index, with the United States being assigned to the baseline index of 100.0.

Demographic Assets

The South-East region possesses a workforce that is for the most part in its prime. With close to 30% of its population being aged between 25 and 44 years, prospective employers can be confident that they will have access to a willing and able-bodied population

On the employment side, both the participation rates (at 53%) and employment rates (at 54%) mirror the provincial averages. While the proximity of Greater Moncton may answer to some of the employment needs of the Southeast, this cannot replace the desire to work in the region as such.
If the unemployment rate is slightly higher than the provincial average, this indicates that there is readiness to work and that prospective companies can feel comfortable that they will have access to a pool of workers who will compete for those openings.
Mobility in the Southeast region is an indication of the relative stability of the working and living environment. With roughly one third of the population having moved in the past 5 years, one may see a solid foundation augmented with a partially renewed population. Taken together, this makes for a dynamic, yet stable climate.

Earnings and living standards

Another attractive feature of the Southeast is higher relative worth of wages for residents and workers. As the population need not support all the burdens of big city amenities, living is made that much more affordable.

Earnings & Employment	New Brunswick	Southeast NB
Worked full time	184,425	8,180
Average employment income	$15,304	$13,943
Worked part time	195,000	9,670
Average employment income	$ 35,982	$ 33,724

Leveraging Greater Moncton’s Assets

Because economies know no boundaries, regions both big and small leverage one another to stimulate business and growth. This is the case for Greater Moncton and the Southeast of New Brunswick.

Greater Moncton offers an important range of support infrastructure, networks, expertise and an additional pool of workers for all of the communities in the Southeast and businesses in particular.
Three industrial parks are also located in Greater Moncton, which brings the total to four parks with the one from Scoudouc that may serve businesses.

As a distribution hub for the Atlantic, Greater Moncton acts as a gateway to regional and international markets with its international airport. Easy access and warehousing infrastructure make it a key asset of the region’s economy.

Since 1997, the airport has grown significantly both in passenger (94% increase) and cargo (43% increase) traffic.
Atlantic Canada's largest courier and fastest growing international air cargo gateway.
Purolator and FedEx have made the airport their Atlantic Canada base of operations.

Greater Moncton’s diversified economy helps businesses in the Southeast to answer their needs, deliver products and facilitate services. Greater Moncton major industries include:

Information and Technology
Manufacturing
Customer Contact Centres
Transportation and Distribution
Tourism
Retail

An Educated and Diversified Workforce

With three important university campuses in the immediate region and two community colleges, Southeast New Brunswick is well equipped to offer first rate graduates and ongoing skills and research development.

Mount Allison University: which is in the Town of Sackville, boasts the first completely wireless campus in Atlantic Canada, is a magnet for research and obtained #1 MacLean's ranking, in all of Canada, for alumni satisfaction. The university boasts solid degrees in sciences, humanities, fine arts and continuous learning programs.
Université de Moncton: this francophone campus attracts student from all parts of the world in light of its strong natural sciences department, law faculty and future medicine faculty. Keen on playing a role on all stages – from local to international – companies can hope to leverage the assets of this institution to further their development.
Atlantic Baptist University: a growing, liberal arts university specializing in Education, Communication Studies and Religious Studies.
Moncton Community College offers a full range of academic and vocational training programs leading to certificates, diplomas, and university transfers. The College has over 110 training programs, all of which offer a mix of theory and practice, and many of which have an integrated co-operative education component.
Dieppe Community College is a francophone institution that offers diplomas in a variety of professional and technical areas since 1981. With 700 full-time students and an additional 3500 punctual students, the college is a key contributor to the regional economy with its programs in business management, new technologies, graphic design, etc.

Education and Economic Vitality

The benefits afforded by these institutions far outstrip the individual student. In the Southeast region, actual and future workers have shown their dedication to obtaining solid training in their respective areas of interest. For the economy as a whole, having an ever-renewed pool of workers is another means by which the Southeast is able to grow and prosper.

For prospective businesses, this translates into a significant employment resource and the means to offer employees an ongoing learning and development structure.

Scoudouc Industrial Park

The Scoudouc Industrial Park (SIP) is a very important economic asset for the southeast region of New Brunswick. Since it’s conversion from a military base in the 1950s, the Park has become a significant manufacturing centre.

According to New Brunswick government survey data, there are 13 manufacturers and some 900 employees making the Park one of the largest in New Brunswick in terms of its manufacturing employment base.

Industrial Park Assets

The Park has a number of core benefits that have led to its current success as a manufacturing centre and position it well for future growth. These include:

The potential for a wider mix of manufacturing than some other industrial parks.
An ample supply of available land at very competitive rates.
Close proximity to a good mix of suppliers and support services to the manufacturing sector.
Close proximity to several large international shipping firms.
A proven ability to attract workers from the broader Greater Moncton and southeast New Brunswick regions.
Close proximity to two community colleges that turn out a variety of skilled workers for the manufacturing sector.
Close proximity to a major international airport.
An existing cluster of manufacturers.
Broadband telecommunications infrastructure.

Pricing

Land is currently sold for $5,000 per acre. This includes all services to the property limits of the prospective client. Unusual or unique circumstances are open to negotiation.

All industries in the park are assessed provincial and municipal taxes. The tax rate for 2003 is $2.72/$100.00 of assessment.

Railroad Access

A unique feature of the Southeast region in general and of some of its specific communities in particular is the presence of railroad services.

Crossing from one end of the region to the other the railroad system is another key access point for product distribution at the regional, national and international levels.
The Scoudouc industrial park is especially well located to cater to these needs as the railroad passes directly into its area where loading and unloading of cargo is made quick and easy.
For the surrounding communities, it is but a short drive to loading and unloading areas, whereby businesses can further guarantee large or small-scale product deliveries to the entire network.

The Coast and its Communities

The proximity of the coast – either immediate or within a few minutes drive – is a distinguishing feature of the Southeast of New Brunswick.

The fishing industry is the most obvious benefit generated by being located near the coast. Whether you are in Shediac, Cap-Pelé or Port Elgin, the fleets of fishing boats and processing plants are key economic drivers for the region. While employment may be local, the clientele is decidedly international.
Another strong economic driver that comes out of being near the coast is the tourism that it generates. This industry can rely on the permanent attractiveness of being next to beaches which boast warm waters, are well-kept, serviced by good restaurants and prone to keep visitors coming back due to a vast choice of accommodations.
As for the quality of life that living next to the coast provides, the view speaks for itself and consists of another important benefit for the individuals working and living in the region.

Tourism: An Economic Driver

First off as an economic motor, the tourism industry generates a considerable amount of business in the region. From golf courses to nationally known beaches, the region is keen on developing its growing tourism sector thank to private and public initiatives. As such there is room for growth in this sector.

Tourism map of South-East New Brunswick

Tourism: a magnet for future clients

The second role of the tourism industry is to attract recurring and new visitors to the region. As such it is a sector, which has a positive spillover effect for companies deserving the regional market.

Tourism: amenities for a high quality working environment

The third benefit of having a healthy tourism sector is that it provides to the working community varied amenities that can be enjoyed by the workers as an additional advantage of working in the region on a daily basis

A Community and a Region to Suit Your Needs

The Southeast region of New Brunswick is poised for growth and the business community, as well as its residents are always open and eager to embark on new projects – from contact centres to manufacturing – in the spirit of entrepreneurship to foster more prosperity for a better life.