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Welcome to "Today in America"
Fort Erie, Ontario, has played a key role in the history that has led to the
establishment
of the Canada/U.S. border we know today.
Originally constructed in 1764, the Old Fort has been a
significant player during the War of 1812 and the Town was a
northern terminus for the Underground Railroad. The beaches and retreats along
Lake Erie have served as an iconic getaway for the people of Southern Ontario
and Upstate New York for decades. And, as always, Fort Erie has stood as a symbol
of the friendship between two powerful nations along the "World's Longest
Undefended Border"
and a busy crossing point linking those two nations.
Fort Erie is a very special place in the fact that we are small town Ontario with
a big city ego.
We have all the amenities of small town Ontario and, at the same time, we have all of the
advantages of being right next door to a big city, the City of Buffalo. We know
Fort Erie is a great place to live, to work and to play and a great place to
invest in. Fort Erie is linked to Buffalo, New York via the world-famous Peace
Bridge
the second busiest international crossing in North America.
With a permanent population of 30,000, the Town swells by another 10,000
each summer,
thanks to the fine beaches, amenities
and tourist attractions it has to offer.
Fort Erie is also the gateway to the Niagara Parkway, winding along the scenic
Niagara River Gorge,
past world renowned Niagara Falls,
with its natural splendors, museums
and tourist spots. We've adopted an "open-for-business" and a "make-it-happen" attitude and a
development team approach to creating an environment in Fort Erie that's conducive
to industrial, commercial and small business growth and development.
As a border community, we understand the nuances of cross-border trade and the
implications of starting a business in a foreign country
and we've had some great success in the past help making Fort Erie a great
place for U.S.-based companies and development stakeholders. Situated mere
minutes from Buffalo and with Toronto an hour and a half away,
Fort Erie is central to well over half of the U.S.
and Canadian populations - all within a 500 mile radius.
Several hospitals in the region assure quality healthcare, while as many as 10
institutions of higher learning can be reached within a 30 minute drive on
both sides of the border.
Frankly, we see development opportunities in all sectors of Fort Erie.
Given its location, we predict strong residential and commercial growth in the
industrial, distribution, manufacturing sectors as well as the tourism and
hospitality sectors.
We have a pipeline of targeted commercial projects with a market value
in excess of 70 million dollars over the next three to five years.
For Erie is becoming a high-tech center,
notably in the aerospace and alternative energy sectors.
Fleet Industries has contributed technology for aircraft production since
the first World War.
Aerosafe Technologies provides high-tech components
for the aerospace industry, while Eurocopter brings its European aircraft
design and manufacturing business to Canada.
Fort Erie is also entering the green energy movement with the production of
wind turbines. Other high-tech industries are helping to guide the world
into the new millennium with technology
that makes sense. Being located in Fort Erie, we can reach the major populations
of both the U.S. and Canada from this location.
70 percent of our products are shipped into the United States. Although
there may be concerns about the border, we're in a voluntary program through the
U.S. Customs Agency
that makes the border almost transparent for our goods.
Always forward-looking, the Town has been involved in new projects to draw even
more visitors to the area.
Over $150 million dollars has been earmarked for a high-end
marina project
on the Niagara River.
Another project in the works is a $200 million dollar speedway which
will include a driving school.
The speedway will also serve as a center for research and development
in cooperation with Hamilton, Ontario's McMaster University.
We're a Town that's proud of our past,
excited about today,
and building for the future.
Occupying a key position at the border between the United States and Canada,
Fort Erie can offer a laid back lifestyle with big city amenities.