Economic Profile

Location

• Ideal location for “Just in Time” manufacturing due to climate and road transportation network
• Nestled along the Grand River, a Canadian Heritage River
• Within Southern Ontario, the most industrialized area of Canada
• Strategically located in Canada's Technology Triangle known for its significant number of technology, science, and advanced manufacturing companies
• Right on Highway 401 for ready access to markets and major metropolitan areas
• Within 50 to 130 km (30 to 80 miles) of Toronto including the border crossings of Niagara Falls/Buffalo
• Within 50 minutes of Toronto's Pearson International Airport for global travel needs

Dedicated Skilled Labour Force

• Within commuting distance of Kitchener, Waterloo, Guelph, Brantford, Mississauga, Milton, Hamilton and several communities in between

• Cambridge has a labour force of 71,880 and the surrounding Region has a workforce of 290,430 including an excellent pool of skilled workers

• Over 17% of the labour force is employed in skilled trades, 4% more than the provincial labour force estimates

Growing Population

• 2018 population is 135,060, which is a 1.5% increase over 2017

• An estimated 49,160 households in 2018, which is forecasted to reach 51,000 by 2019

• Cambridge is part of the Region of Waterloo, with an estimated 2018 population of 601,220 which is forecasted to reach 607,620 by the end of 2019

• City involvement in industrial land development and community marketing

Diverse Industrial Base

• 10,853 businesses, of which 497 are manufacturing businesses which range in diversity from advanced manufacturing to leading edge science and technology firms

• Strong manufacturing support system through various specialized machine shops, technology-based services and University-sponsored research opportunities

Strong Economic Growth

• The economy of Cambridge has experienced strong growth over the past decade in both output and employment

• Non-residential construction in 2018 was valued at $78 million.

• Residential construction in 2018 was valued at $140 million representing 482housing starts

• The total building permit value for 2018 was $249 million

• Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada is the largest employer in Cambridge with a 3.01 million square foot facility on 400 acres, employing 6,000 people

• The City of Cambridge offers reasonable taxes

Lifestyle

• Affordable housing. The average price for a home in Cambridge as of December 2018 was $472,000 vs. the Region of  Waterloo average of $515,000, Ontario average of $590,000 and Canadian average of $600,000.

• Excellent schools, 12 community centers and 5 public library branches

• Over 100 Parks covering more than 408 Hectares and 14 golf courses within driving distance

• 140 sports fields, numerous organized sporting and leisure activities with a wide variety of cultural events

• 7 ice surfaces, 2 private arenas, 5 indoor and 4 outdoor pools, 15 indoor soccer fields

• Over 70 km of trails, with over half along the banks of the Grand and Speed Rivers