A diversified economy.

• Author: Ross, Ian
• Position: Economic conditions of North Bay, Ontario

North Bay has an eye on promoting itself as one of Northern Ontario's best places in which to do business.

The city has been raising eyebrows across the North by selling 112 acres of light industrial property for almost land-rush prices--$1 an acre--at its underutilized Gateway Industrial Park.

"We're looking for significant manufacturing projects," says Rick Evans, manager of the Mayor's Office of Economic Development, of the city's aggressive strategy to lure new business from southern Ontario. Already blessed with an abundance of light manufacturing, the city has one of the region's most diversified economies generating many spinoffs in the transportation and service sectors.

Also high on the city's development priority list is the marketing of a military underground complex at CFB North Bay. The three-story below-ground command bunker is part of the North American Defence Command early warning system.

With a new above-ground facility now under construction, slated for a mid-2005 completion, the city is marketing the bunker to international data storage companies.

The Department of National Defence still retains title, but the city is in the preliminary stages of developing partnerships, says Evans. A phase of negotiation for the eventual hand-over will take place depending upon when the new facility becomes operational.

RELATED ARTICLE: City of North Bay

Quick facts

* Population -- 68,681

www.cityofnorthbay.ca

* Location -- 330 kilometres north of Toronto

* Main industry --...