Years of groundwork leads to massive investment in Cumberland Ward

For some time the City of Ottawa has been working to attract jobs to east Ottawa.  Stephen is happy to announce that Amazon will create more than 600 full-time jobs in Carlsbad Springs.

In 2015, in order to encourage economic development, the City approved Official Plan Amendment 153 to extend the Carlsbad trickle feed water system to the Boundary Road rural industrial area.

Furthermore, the Boundary Road industrial lands in Carlsbad Springs were identified as an area of opportunity for rural economic development in the 2016 Ottawa Employment Lands Review Final Report.

A few weeks ago it was reported that Amazon would be establishing a distribution centre at this location.

While the media reported that information before the deal was finalized I can today confirm that Amazon is partnering with Broccolini Construction to establish a 1 million square foot fufillment centre in Cumberland Ward.

Broccolini Construction will build the facility and cover all of the costs to extend water and hydro to the entire industrial area providing enormous benefit to residential and commercial neighbours. They will also implement a series of roadway modifications that residents have called for in the area.

This represents a private sector investment of $200 million in Cumberland Ward. This project will create 1,500 jobs, in 30 different trades, during construction and a further 600 permanent jobs once open.

To further assist in attracting Amazon and in recognition of the enormous investment needed to build this facility, today I moved a motion at planning committee to request the city grant an interest free delay in the payment of development charges.

This deferral of DCs is a key part of Broccolini’s business case to convince Amazon to come to Ottawa.

I’ve always believed that governments role is to create an environment where the private sector feels confident in investing and creating jobs. By allowing for water to be extended, making the site an economic development priority, deferring development charges and maintaining a stable and affordable level of taxation the City of Ottawa has been able to attract one of the world’s biggest companies to our community.