Vulcan investment info

Vulcan Business Development Society

Town & County

Investment Information September 2013

This is an investment information document compiled by the Vulcan Business Development Society Please contact Jon Allan, Economic Development Officer - for investment and relocation information or assistance. +1-403-485-4100 jonathan@vulcanbusiness.ca

www.VulcanBusiness.ca

Vulcan County

The finest agricultural land in southern Alberta With a total population of just under 7000 people, and located just southeast of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Vulcan County offers a beautiful prairie landscape, a superb quality of life, and some of the world’s finest grain and cereal crops boasting exceptionally high protein content.

The county’s administrative area consists of all the hamlets and land outside of the incorporated town and villages within its borders.

Vulcan County is also a member of the southern Alberta economic development initiative called SouthGrow, and is within the jurisdiction of Community Futures Highwood - an organization that provides mentoring and affordable loans to small businesses and entrepreneurs.

Vulcan County offers an abundance of natural resources, including for recreation and energy • 11 major lakes & reservoirs are located within the county.

• 500,000+ hectares of agricultural land is developed, with excellent potential to expand value-added agriculture production.

• Prime location for renewable energy development, including wind and solar.

• Oil and gas presence has helped bring wealth to the community.

Vulcan County is Very Affordable With lower real estate and operating costs than major cities nearby, Vulcan County offers the chance to live a wonderful quality of life, and is a fantastic place to invest.

Quality Education and Workforce Lethbridge College has also established a rural campus in Vulcan County. For the 2013-2014 educational year, 8 courses will be offered in the areas of Small Business Management and Entrepreneurship, Unit Clerk Studies, Renewable Energy Development, and various Trades. These courses are supported by the Vulcan Business Development Society (VBDS).

All Science.

No Fiction.

Town of Vulcan

World renowned for its Star Trek & science-fiction festival each year, Vulcan is leveraging its fame to boldly go into the 21st century with a progressive technology strategy based on science-fact.

The Town of Vulcan is the first small town in Alberta and the smallest town in Canada to have fibre optic communications infrastructure installed by a private company using absolutely no public dollars. This is a testament to Vulcan’s progressive attitude toward technology.

The Town of Vulcan is a Regional Hub Boasting an airport, golf course, regional hospital, and beautiful tree-lined streets, the Town of Vulcan is the economic, population, and transportation hub of the Vulcan County area.

Its prime location in the centre of southern Alberta, midway between Calgary and Lethbridge, allows further access to the US border, the city of Medicine Hat, and British Columbia all within 2 hours away.

Investment and Economic Development Support Vulcan is host to several organizations dedicated to promoting the Town and County’s economic development, including the VBDS and its sister organization, the Vulcan Brand Innovation Team.

Vulcan offers housing development opportunities, hotel development and commercial retail opportunities, and industrial development options to support the burgeoning growth of the town.

Strategically positioned for growth, Vulcan is in the centre of southern Alberta and is a prime candidate to become a technologically advanced distribution hub.

• Fibre optic data and communications available to commercial enterprise.

• Just 120 kms south of Calgary, the economic capital of Alberta.

• Just 95 kms north of the city of Lethbridge, a strategically important city in southern Alberta.

Vulcan’s Villages

Unsurpassed quality of life in each unique Village Vulcan’s Villages are small communities of about 300 people or less. Due to their affordability, land availability and beautiful settings they offer great untapped potential.

Arrowwood - In the northwest of the County, Arrowwood is award-winning for its beautification through the Communities in Bloom program.

Carmangay - In the southwest of the County, Carmangay is a historic village containing some of the oldest aboriginal tipi rings in the area (11,000 years old). Carmangay is also the community closest to the massive $600 million Blackspring Ridge wind energy project currently under construction.

The Villages of Vulcan are each a unique community, spread throughout the Vulcan County area.

Champion - In the west of the County, south of the town of Vulcan, Champion is known for promoting community organic gardens. It is also just 10 minutes from beautiful Little Bow Resort and Provincial Park.

• The Villages of Vulcan are close to some of the largest lakes and rivers in Southern Alberta, and offer a peaceful and safe quality of life that is rivaled nowhere else.

Lomond - In the east of the County, Lomond is the gateway to the vast eastward prairies, and near some of the best fishing in southern Alberta.

• Lots of land available for development with supportive community governments.

Milo - In the northeast of the County, next to the shores of Lake MacGregor, Milo offers wonderful educational support for local families’ children who go on to College and University.

• Each community is close to at least one of Vulcan’s six provincial parks.

• With culture and history in abundance, each community is worth a look.

Ongoing investments into the community Several major projects are ongoing in the Vulcan County area, totaling more than $615 million in development!

Major Developments

Blackspring Ridge Wind Energy Development The Blackspring Ridge Wind project, the largest project ongoing in the county, is being built just outside of the Village of Carmangay.

Construction began in June 2013 to erect 166 wind turbines, which together will generate more than 300 megawatts of electricity. It is the largest wind development in all of western Canada.

The $600 million project is jointly owned by EDF EN, of France, and Enbridge, of Canada.

Wind River Development Corp.

Wind River has created a semi-permanent modular building assembly facility just outside of the Town of Vulcan in a building formerly used as an airforce aircraft hangar.

Crystal Blue Private Resort Construction of the $5 million project on the north shore of Lake MacGregor, just outside of the Village of Milo, will begin soon.

Other established and ongoing projects The Lake MacGregor Estates private community outside of Lomond, and the Whispering Greens housing development in the Town of Vulcan are continuously growing with newly built homes.

By installing fibre optic infrastructure using only private dollars, Axia NetMedia Corp. is helping Vulcan become the most technologically advanced rural community in Canada. • Other new companies calling Vulcan home include:

Recycling and Recovery Assets International Ltd. (RRAI), a computer

recovery and data protection company. • Get Conscious Energy Products Co. (GCEP), a producer and distributor of sporting goods including unique rechargeable bicycle lights.

Future Opportunities

With a surge in growth and technology infrastructure, demand is ripe for the investment, development, and construction of projects of all kinds.

• Entrepreneurs will find that with the high number of tourism visitors, low cost of operations, available workforce, and weak competition, retail development can practically be viewed as a blank slate.

• Industrial opportunities include the development of an industrial or warehouse park to facilitate distribution in the Town of Vulcan, which - for the right developer - the town has considered giving land for free as incentive.

• Considering both the Town and County of Vulcan’s low vacancy rate and small but increasing population, residential opportunities are everywhere.

Land is ready to be serviced and developed.

The Vulcan & County area is strategically positioned for growth Opportunities have been identified in a number of areas within Vulcan County.

Existing & Future Resort Community Developments It is projected that the resort communities, including Little Bow Resort, Lake MacGregor Estates and the future Crytal Blue development, will draw several thousand more seasonal and permanent residents into the county. These additional residents will require retail goods and commercial services from local businesses.

Development of Airport Related Businesses With an increasing number of hangars being constructed at the local airport, several options are available to entrepreneurs, including ideas such as the development of a flight school or an aircraft maintenance services company.

Alternative Energy Development With Vulcan County receiving more sun per square metre per day than most other colder climate areas, and with the Town of Vulcan about to construct a new solar energy park, the solar energy sector is set to grow. The development of commercial wind energy and energy-from-waste industrial facilities are also suitable.

Retail, Hotel and Restaurant Opportunities Quality restaurants, pubs, cafes, and social venues would do well; there is also a shortage of hotel rooms within the Vulcan town and county area.