Town of Grand Bay-Westfield Town Profile Grand Bay-Westfield Grand Bay-Westfield is an inviting community with beautiful scenic views along the St. John River. It offers affordable waterfront property, lovely summers outside the fog belt and no traffic congestion. AT A GLANCE Dale Moore, Realtor LOCATION ADVANTAGE BUSINESS COMMUNITY QUALITY OF LIFE INFRASTRUCTURE BUSINESS ASSISTANCE TOURISM & RECREATION http://www.town.grandbay-westfield.nb.ca 15:envdev:town profile Page 1 of 10
Grand Bay-Westfield At A Glance Important Facts & Figures The Town of Grand Bay-Westfield, incorporated in 1998, is comprised of the former Town of Grand Bay and the former Village of Westfield. Grand Bay-Westfield is located in southwestern New Brunswick along the River Valley Scenic Drive, one of the provincially designated scenic routes, and is home to a community of 5117 residents. As the gateway to the Lower St. John River Valley area, Grand Bay-Westfield acts as a service centre to several small and rural communities with a local market in excess of 7,800 consumers. Grand Bay-Westfield has access to the provincial highway system on Rte 177 and Rte 7, placing residents minutes away from either Saint John or Fredericton. This unique location offers an advantage to local businesses for access to larger urban consumer markets, and a wide pool of potential employees, suppliers, business and government services. World class sports, entertainment, cultural facilities are but a short drive away. We understand the importance of growing a community based on responsible development. Our vision is sustained by engaged residents, reinforced by the strong planning policies and goals set out in our Municipal Plan. Mayor Grace Losier, Grand Bay-Westfield 15:envdev:town profile Page 2 of 10
Location Advantage Recognized as the industrial and commercial center of New Brunswick, the Fundy Region has a proud heritage of entrepreneurship. Bridging the markets of the northeastern United States, the Maritimes, western Europe, Quebec, and Ontario, the Region is home to many established businesses. Its unique strategic advantages are allowing the Fundy Region to attract new attention as the preferred location for expanding national and multinational firms. Close Proximity to Urban Centers Grand Bay-Westfield offers the best of urban and rural New Brunswick, encompassing both an active local business community and access to larger local and regional markets. Minutes away from uptown Saint John, Grand Bay-Westfield has fast and convenient access to a variety of business, personal, and government services. Grand Bay-Westfield is located near the junction of provincial highways Rte 1 and Rte 7, giving the Town easy access to the Province s three largest cities, Saint John, Moncton, and Fredericton. In addition, Grand Bay-Westfield acts as the commercial service center to the rural and small communities of the lower St. John River Valley, a local market of more than 7,800 consumers. Rapid local growth is encouraging entrepreneurs to satisfy demands for a wide range of business and personal services. Proximity to Large Markets Part of the strategic location enjoyed by the business community in Grand Bay-Westfield is the proximity to large and affluent markets of the northeastern United States as well as our own Maritime market. With the American border a one hour drive away on recently upgraded highways, companies and businesses in Grand Bay-Westfield and area have access to the largest market of its kind in North America. Market Access A Strategic Advantage Local Market (Fundy Region) More than 170,000 consumers Regional market (southern N.B.) More than 300,000 consumers Markets within 800 KM (1 day range) More than 43,000,000 consumers Markets within 1,600 KM (2 day range) More than 43,000,000 consumers. Distance To Urban Markets Saint John 16 km Fredericton 83 km Moncton 164 km Boston 658 km Montreal 921 km Toronto 1,307 km 15:envdev:town profile Page 3 of 10
Business Community Municipal Statistics: (2011 census*) Land Area: 59.86 km² Population: 5117 Population Density 85.5 persons/km2** Total No. of private dwellings: 1894* Average Resale House price $176,500 (2012), $171,018 (2013) Average New House Price $290,000 (2012), $310,000 (2013) Residential Tax Rate 1.37/$100 Cultural & Recreational Public Beaches, Brundage Point River Centre, Golf Course, Walking Trails (including Blueberry Hill Nature Preserve), Arena, Recreation Centre, Baseball Fields, Soccer Fields & Tennis Courts. Services: Fire, Police, Ambulance Places of Worship: 6 Schools: 1 Middle School, 3 Elementary School, (plus private pre-schools) Transit: Provincial Ferry Services across the Saint John River, Saint John Transit bus & Regional Comex Express bus service to Saint John Retail and Service Grand Bay-Westfield is the commercial service centre of an area that includes the Local Service Districts of Greenwich and Westfield West, serving a population of over 8,000 people including the 5,117 residents of Grand Bay-Westfield. Supported by strong and sustained growth, the business community in Grand Bay-Westfield includes close to 100 businesses. The majority of these offer personal services and retail goods, and range from automotive repair to exercise studios. Much of the retail activity in Grand Bay-Westfield is along River Valley Drive (Route 177), near the St. John Kings County boundary line. It is supplemented by two strip malls and a professional centre. Traffic along Route 177 generates a substantial number of potential customers. A new collector road, Col. Nase Blvd. (recently opened) will add more commercial properties easily accessed by the main Fredericton to Saint John Highway (Route 7). Home Based Business Major Employers Major employers in Grand Bay- Westfield include: Bank of Nova Scotia Grand Bay Circle K Grand Bay Guardian Drug Grand Bay Home Hardware Health & Wellness Centre (Medical Staff) Pumpkin Patch River Valley Community Center Scholten s 6-12 Store Sobey s Schools Town of Grand Bay- Westfield Westfield Golf & Country Club Many residents commute to jobs in Saint John at companies such as: Irving Group of Companies Board of School Trustees Saint John Regional Hospital BellAliant NB Power Grand Bay-Westfield s enviable position being located between the three largest centres in the province, combined with an outstanding quality of life have made the area a popular location for small office and home-based businesses. From engineers to internet programmers, Grand Bay-Westfield is a preferred location for start-ups in the knowledge based industry. Saputo Inc. Moosehead Breweries 15:envdev:town profile Page 4 of 10
Quality Of Life Health Care & Emergency Services Churches, Clubs & Service Groups Grand Bay-Westfield is home to five churches, and more than 50 clubs and service groups including: Beta Sigma Phi Girl Guides Boy Scouts River Valley Little League River Valley Lions Club Kiwanis of Western Kings The Health & Wellness Centre has two general practice physicians, as well as one dental practitioner and a physiotherapy centre serving residents of Grand Bay-Westfield. Medical support is provided by two local pharmacies within the Town (Grand Bay-Pharmacy and The Medicine Shoppe). A comprehensive range of health care facilities and services are located only minutes away in Saint John. The Town of Grand Bay-Westfield is provided with Ambulance Service by the Province of New Brunswick Ambulance Service. The Community is serviced by the local detachment of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Fire service is provided by the Grand Bay-Westfield Volunteer Fire/Rescue Department. River Valley Community Center Completed in 1997, the River Valley Community Center combines arena facilities, fitness center, and multi-purpose room. Local Newspaper Begun in 1987, River Valley News has grown to a circulation of over 6,000 as a monthly community newspaper. Public Transportation Saint John Transit provides regularly scheduled bus service connecting Grand Bay-Westfield (as far north as Epworth Park Road, along River Valley Drive) to all points within the City of Saint John. Five scheduled daily runs (morning, noon, and early evening) are provided Monday through Friday. River Valley Ground Search & Rescue Pathfinders & Rangers Old Timers Softball Women s Institute River Valley Seniors Saint John Region The Chamber River Valley Basketball Knights of Columbus Council #9176 Royal Canadian Legion Branch #22 Westfield & District Recreation Tailwhip Park Small Town Charm Incorporated in 1998, Grand Bay- Westfield has developed from two small communities of summer cottages to a thriving community with a shared sense of identity and a multitude of services available to its residents 15:envdev:town profile Page 5 of 10
Quality Of Life continued. Good Schools Public education facilities for Grand Bay-Westfield are under the administrative jurisdiction of The Anglophone South School District. There are four schools within the municipal boundaries; Grand Bay Primary, Inglewood Elementary, Westfield Elementary, and River Valley Middle School. The district high school for students from the Grand Bay-Westfield area is Harbour View High School. A collection of enhanced programs including French Immersion, International Baccalaureate studies, cooperative education and apprenticeship programs are available at various high schools throughout the District. Francopohone students have the option to attend Centre Scolaire-Communautaire Samuel-de-Champlain, with schooling available at all levels. Both the University of New Brunswick and the New Brunswick Community College have campuses in Saint John, and are available to residents from Grand Bay-Westfield. UNBSJ has established a national reputation for its Business and Marine Biology programs, and has recently created the Centre for Electronic Commerce as well as a Dalhousie Medical Program. Housing Grand Bay-Westfield offers a wide variety of purchase, rental, and lease properties, frequently at more attractive prices than other parts of the province. Rapid growth has generated significant amounts of new development, supplementing the existing market for gracious older homes. Riverfront and cottage properties are widely available. The average price for a new three bedroom bungalow in the Fundy Region in 2009 was $246,937.00 with the average price now for 2- storey executive homes at $401,079. The Western Kings Kiwanis Lodge for senior citizens has been open since 1985. The Lodge has 30 self-contained apartments, including a mix of one and two bedroom, and handicap-friendly units. Seely Lodge is an assisted-living Senior Care Group Home, opened in 2004, with bedrooms for 12 seniors with full time attendant care. Inglewood Manor for senior citizens has been open since 2008. The Manor has seven selfcontained apartments including a mix of one and two bedrooms, and handicap-friendly units. Brundage Point River Centre The Brundage Point River Centre opened in 2007 and is surrounded by water on three sides and is the perfect alternative to the traditional hotel banquet hall or conference facility. 15:envdev:town profile Page 6 of 10
Infrastructure Fast Road Connections A strong commitment to investment in road infrastructure on the part of provincial and federal governments has resulted in substantial new and planned construction. The result is a network of twinned four-lane connections capable of moving goods quickly and safely. Recent expansion and upgrading of provincial Route 7 has made access to Saint John and Fredericton even faster and more convenient, for both commuters and commercial operators. Grand Bay-Westfield is also a very short distance from Highway 1 which leads to the U.S. border at St. Stephen. This is one of the highest volume border crossings in Canada with traffic of 1,413,111 vehicles and 78,130 trucks each year. The Fundy Region is home to more than 40 national, international, and regional motor carriers, and can accommodate any shipping needs whether inbound or outbound. Grand Bay-Westfield is serviced directly by the Westfield ferry to the Kingston Penninsula, and also by four other ferry systems on the St. John River within a 25 km. radius. Ferry service is free. Worldwide Shipments by Sea Grand Bay-Westfield is minutes away from the Port of Saint John, which delivers low cost long distance shipping for container, break-bulk, and specialty cargoes to Europe, the Eastern United States, the Caribbean, Mexico, and Africa on a scheduled basis. The Port of Saint John is a worldclass deep water port, with deep approaches and ice-free waters that allow the Port to operate efficiently year-round. The Saint John Port Corporation operates 24 berthing facilities and has a floating Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo) wharf at the Navy Island Forest Products Terminal. Access to Airport Grand Bay-Westfield is within a short drive of both the Saint John and Fredericton airports which are served by major national carriers on a daily basis, including direct connections to Montreal, Halifax, Toronto, Boston and New York. Several private aviation facilities exist at the airport including three private hangers, a flying club, private and commercial aircraft maintenance and repair facilities, and two refuelling facilities. Scheduled commercial passenger and cargo service provides first-class business support. Municipal Tax Grand Bay-Westfield s 2015 municipal tax rate is $1.37 per hundred dollars of assessed value. Sewer Rates (Per Unit) Type Rate Residential Sewage Rate $270.00 Commercial Sewage Rate $270.00 Institutional Sewage Rate $270.00 Residential Power Rates (NB Power) 10.05 /kwh Type Rate Service Charge Urban $20.08 Service Charge Rural & Seasonal Business Rates General Service 1 Type $22.02 Rate General Service 1 $ 21.35 1st 20 kw of Demand Addition of demand No charge 9.85 /kw Water & Sewer Residential and commercial establishments in Grand Bay-Westfield are served by individual water wells, with much of the former Town of Grand Bay serviced by municipal sewage and the former Village of Westfield dependent upon private septic systems. 1st 5000 kwh Balance 12.31 /kwh 7.73 /kwh 15:envdev:town profile Page 7 of 10
Business Assistance With the opening of the Business Resource Center in Uptown Saint John, many of these organizations are gathered conveniently in one location. The Business Resource Center is located at 40 King Street in Saint John, and includes: Enterprise Saint John, Business NB, Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, Saint John Board of trade, Uptown Saint John, Saint John Waterfront development Partnerships. Organizations Providing Business Assistance Include: Enterprise Saint John (ESJ) Enterprise Saint John assists new and existing businesses in the Greater Saint John area. ESJ can provide: assistance with planning a business or marketing strategy identifying potential sources of financial and government assistance guidance through the application process liaison services with all levels of government and business. For additional information, call (506) 632-6110. Saint John Region The Chamber The Chamber officially launched on May 7, 2014 when members of the business community voted in favour of regional cooperation. Geographic boundaries were expanded and a new governance structure was adopted, giving birth to a new regional chamber, including the Kennebecasis Chamber of Commerce, the River Valley Chamber of Commerce, the Saint John West Business Association and the Saint John Board of Trade. For additional information, visit www.sjboardoftrade.com Community Business Development Corporation Community Business Development Corporation provides funding of up to $75,000 to all economic sectors for business start-up and expansion through interest bearing loans. For additional information, call 1-800-466-7955. Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) is an agency of the federal government offering a broad range of programs and services designed to help business at all stages of development. ACOA administers the Business Development Program, providing financial assistance for innovation, business studies, capital investment, selling to government, marketing development, human resource development, and business support. For additional information, call (506) 636-4485. Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) The Business Development Bank of Canada provides a range of financial services to small and medium sized businesses, including loans, venture loans, guarantees, and venture capital. BDC also offers business counselling, training, and planning services. For additional information, call (506) 636-4751. 15:envdev:town profile Page 8 of 10
Business Assistance continued. RPC/NRC The Research and Productivity Council and the National Research Council The Research and Productivity Council and the National Research Council offer professional and technical services to help industry develop new products and processes. Located in the electronic Commerce Building 127 Carleton Street For additional information, call (506) 636-3367. Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour administers the Entrepreneur program, offering interest-free start-up loans to eligible entrepreneurs planning to operate their own business. For additional information, call (506) 453-3818 Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Aquaculture The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Aquaculture provides assistance to micro-enterprises and entrepreneurs in rural areas, with an emphasis on food and craft products. For additional information, call (506) 432-2157 Canada-New Brunswick Business Service Centre Canada-New Brunswick Business Service Centre offers one-stop information, referral and advice on government services for business. The Centre is accessible 24 hours a day and offers service in both french and english. For additional information, call 1-800-668-1010 or Fax 1-800-401-3201 15:envdev:town profile Page 9 of 10
Tourism and Recreation The Grand Bay-Westfield area offers an outstanding quality of life set in dramatic scenery and an uncrowded, unpolluted environment. The favourable climate and scenic waterways create a variety of recreational possibilities for residents and visitors alike. From birdwatching to icefishing, Grand Bay-Westfield is the centre of outdoor activity in all seasons. Grand Bay-Westfield is also a contributor to projects which are a result of regional co-operation, such as the Imperial Theatre, Harbour Station and the Aquatic Centre. There are four golf courses available (all within a 20 minute drive) to residents in Grand Bay-Westfield and area. The Westfield Golf & Country Club, which is located in Grand Bay-Westfield, maintains a challenging 18 hole golf course, along with extensive hospitality facilities. Grand Bay- Westfield also has a strong and rapidly growing collection of public recreation facilities including ball fields, tennis courts, mini parks, and playgrounds. The area boasts increasingly popular minor hockey, baseball, softball and soccer programs, Girl Guides and Boy Scouts. Originally part of cottage country, Grand Bay-Westfield still enjoys the scenery and relaxing pastimes provided by nearby rivers, lakes and seashore. Both freshwater and saltwater beaches are only minutes away. Boating on the Kennebecasis and St. John Rivers is convenient and affordable with many residents mooring their boats right at their back yard. Tourism Development Grand Bay-Westfield is positioned to take advantage of New Brunswick s success in developing outdoor adventure tourism activities. The appeal of the St. John River is widely recognized in a number of cruising guides, and the Lower River Valley has been described in William F. Buckley s books as one of the best places to sail in the world. Grand Bay-Westfield is a short drive from Saint John, offering residents world class sports, entertainment, and cultural facilities: New Brunswick Museum Canada Games Aquatic Centre Aitken Bicentennial Exhibition Centre Saint John Trade & Convention Centre Harbour Station Imperial Theatre Saint John Free Public Library Saint John City Market Cherry Brook Zoo Rockwood Park Irving Nature Park Canada Games Stadium 15:envdev:town profile Page 10 of 10