NEDC Microsites

NEDC has created and actively manages economic development microsites for seven of Niagara's municipalities that do not have economic development offices: Lincoln, West Lincoln, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Pelham, Thorold, Wainfleet and Grimsby. Each website provides a comprehensive community profile highlighting economic development information, business opportunities, insights and characteristics that define each municipality, and its unique place within Niagara.

The creation of these sites has been recognized as innovative and best in class by the Economic Developer's Council of Ontario.

		Grimsby Situated between Lake Ontario and the Niagara Escarpment, Grimsby is one of the most picturesque locations in all of Niagara. Established in 1816, Grimsby was originally settled by a small group of Empire Loyalist families who escaped north from the American Revolution in 1787. Today, Grimsby's 26,500 residents still benefit from the rich agricultural tillings, namely its peaches. The Peach Kings Junior C hockey team are two-time provincial champions. The Town hosts numerous festivals and events throughout the year, such as the Peachbud Road Race and the Grimsby Festival of Art, which celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2007. Thanks to the Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW), a major transportation corridor linking Niagara to the Great Toronto Area and U.S. border, Grimsby is ideally located for many businesses. Although agriculture and viticulture still represent a solid portion of Grimsby's economy, the QEW has allowed for a variety of industries and services to flourish here, such as healthcare, trucking/transport, and manufacturing.

		Pelham Nestled in the heart of Niagara is the Town of Pelham, located geographically at the highest point in the region between the Niagara escarpment and the Welland River. The town encompasses the former small hamlets and villages of Effingham, Fenwick, Fonthill, North Pelham and Ridgeville. Today, Pelham is a town of 17,000 people and has evolved from 1860s farmland to a locale popular with small and medium-sized business entrepreneurs. The town offers a quality of life and standard of living unparalleled in Niagara, boasting a truly knowledge-based economy. There truly is a friendly, neighbour-helping-neighbour atmosphere that Pelham residents create and enjoy. Key industries include professional, scientific and technical services; construction; real estate and rental and leasing and agriculture. Pelham has a number of private employers, including those in the service sector, in construction, real estate and financial services. Research and development continues to drive an emerging scientific and technical services industry in Pelham as the town's businesses strive to capitalize on the excitement of Niagara's economic transformation.

		Thorold Overlooking the Welland Canal's seven locks is the city of Thorold, located geographically on the brow of the Niagara Escarpment and centrally positioned within the Niagara region. The city encompasses the communities of Beaverdams, St. Johns, Allanburg, Port Robinson and Thorold South. The Welland Canal plays an integral role in Thorold's past and present identity. Throughout the 1820s, the villages that make up the municipality today were booming as construction of the Welland Canal brought an influx of labourers who settled here. The next century saw the formation of the Regional Municipality of Niagara and the town's incorporation as a city. Today, Thorold is a city of about 18,000 people. Thorold is the home of Niagara Region's headquarters and has a number of private employers, including those in construction, utilities, and the pulp and paper industry. Emerging business sectors that have been established in Thorold include health and wellness and green technology. It is a community that continues to grow; a number of residential developments are currently under construction and are expected to increase the city's population by 50 per cent within the next 10 years.

		Niagara-on-the-Lake The town of Niagara-on-the-Lake (pop. 16,200) lies at the mouth of the Niagara River, adjacent to the cities of Niagara Falls and St. Catharines. It is a unique and diverse community that attracts more than 3 million tourists annually. It is comprised of the communities of Queenston, Virgil, St. Davids, Glendale and the Heritage District, known as Old Town. The town's pivotal and well-documented role in the War of 1812 is an ever-present theme throughout the community. Historic forts and monuments commemorate Niagara-on-the-Lake's contributions to the war. The area also played an important role in early settlement and government, commerce and recently as a centre for tourism and the arts. Grand mansions, beautiful vineyards, breath-taking parks and gardens, and interesting galleries, along with many other attractions beautify the area. This unique and diverse community is home to a number of thriving business sectors, including the wine industry and tourism and hospitality. Agritourism is an emerging sub-sector as people from around the world discover Niagara-on-the-Lake's multitude of fresh produce at farms, markets, fruit stands and other establishments. Today, Niagara-on-the-Lake holds the title of the prettiest town in Ontario and Canada, has been declared a Historic Old Town and is a National Historic Site.

		Wainfleet The Township of Wainfleet sits on the northern shore of Lake Erie and is bordered by the Welland River, the Town of Haldimand to the west and the cities of Welland and Port Colborne to the east. Wainfleet encompasses 19 hamlets. The Township celebrated its 150^th birthday in 2000. It is a unique, rural and agricultural community that takes pride in its rich heritage. Many early settlers, including David Morgan Sr. and his son David who arrived in Wainfleet Township during the Revolutionary War, laid an agricultural foundation that has endured more than 200 years. Wainfleet's agricultural productivity plays an important role in Niagara's farming industry. Today, dairy, beef cattle and cash crops are produced locally. A small tourism industry continues to flourish near the Lake Erie/Long Beach area. The township also hosts the Marshville Heritage Festival, which recreates life in Ontario circa 1850 - 1910 annually on Labour Day weekend. While you can enjoy an abundance of activities within the township and our neighbouring communities including tourist attractions, theatres, restaurants and golf courses, you’ll find Wainfleet’s rural location offers you access to the region’s exciting amenities while providing a refuge from big city noise and traffic.

		West Lincoln West Lincoln lies within the Golden Horseshoe and is located on the Niagara Escarpment. The Township is situated on the western border of the region, south of Lake Ontario and north of Lake Erie, and is centrally positioned between Niagara and Hamilton and is an amalgamation of the former townships of South Grimsby, Caistor, and Gainsborough. Many rural clusters and hamlet communities also lie within the town's boundaries. These designations encourage and accommodate residential and commercial development. The growth of the Township and its agricultural sector dates back to the early 1900s, when the T.H. & B (Toronto, Hamilton & Buffalo) Railway Company built a rail line that stretched from Toronto to Buffalo. The line, which ran through Smithville, was a boon to the area’s early economic development as it provided a link to nearby cities and transported farm products to city markets. It was also a vehicle for local residents who need to shop. Today, West Lincoln is a township of about 13,000 people and offers a variety of transportation linkages with direct access to large industrial, commercial, and residential areas. Smithville, the largest urban centre of the Township, is poised for growth in industrial, commercial, and residential development. An industrial park is becoming home to automotive, packaging, and agricultural industries arriving in West Lincoln.

		Lincoln The beautiful Town of Lincoln, with its towns and villages filled with antique shops, wineries, historical sites and natural attractions, is located on the Queen Elizabeth Way in Niagara, adjacent to the south shore of Lake Ontario. It is comprised of the villages of Beamsville, Campden, Jordan, Jordan Harbour, Jordan Station, Pelham Union, Rockway, Tintern, Vineland and Vineland Station. While today's visitors enjoy historical sites, a picturesque downtown and farm and fruit lands full of bountiful harvests and other amenities, the first settlers were Neutral Indians, followed by European settlers in 1777, including ex-Butler's Rangers who had fought on the side of the British in the American War of Independence. This unique and diverse community is home to a number of thriving key industries, including Agriculture and related activities, Construction, Professional, scientific and technical services, Retail trade and Real Estate rental and leasing. Lincoln continues to be a leading area for tender fruit production and grape growing. Its wines are achieving international recognition and winning awards for quality. The town also has the largest concentration of greenhouse operators in Canada.