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46 WINTER 2020 I f there's anything Canada's first and largest tri-modal inland port doesn't do, it's slow down. CentrePort Canada, located on more than 8,000 hectares of industrial land in west Winnipeg and the RM of Rosser, offers direct access to national and international rail, truck and air cargo operations. This busy transportation hub is continually moving and growing to better serve the companies within its catchment. Merit Functional Foods' pea and canola processing plant is currently under construction in BrookPort Business Park, a fully serviced industrial park within CentrePort, while 10 other companies have committed to building there. BrookPort Business Park has done so well — selling out in less than a year — that the real estate company backing it, Whiteland Developers, is putting $32 million on the line to develop Phase II. Not only that, but another developer — MMI Asset Management Ltd. — recently broke ground on Steele Business Park, a $46-million project within CentrePort. Diane Gray, President and CEO of CentrePort Canada, says there was a temporary pause on the industrial side when COVID-19 hit, but business picked up as quickly as it stalled. "The industrial development marketplace paused for about three weeks and then it was back to business," says Gray. "Construction was deemed an essential service, and considering the work was done by local construction companies and developers we were able to proceed." CentrePort is also working to service CentrePort South, which includes 445 hectares of industrial space that already has developers attached to it. This expansion could include a residential component, an added convenience for those working nearby. Developers aren't shy to invest in the area and companies are eager to secure their spots, despite a year that's seen many businesses struggle. Even in a pandemic, the ease of doing business at CentrePort remains a large part of its appeal. Developers appreciate the quick land- development approvals, which means more time working and less time waiting. As a special planning area, designated by the Province of Manitoba, CentrePort is able to expedite the process. On average, Gray says developers can have their land fully approved within three months and have their building permits in a week. "It's leading-edge in the marketplace," she says. Companies looking to buy or rent property at CentrePort are also offered assistance in connecting with service providers — in real estate, construction, law, waste management, and so on — who can help them get established. This is especially useful to those new in business or new in town. The transportation piece is another significant draw, and one that keeps on growing. CentrePort Canada Way, also known as Provincial Trunk Highway 190, has fast-tracked road transport from Winnipeg to the Perimeter Highway. Current infrastructure stretches through Rosser, and in the future will be extended to bypass Headingley. CentrePort already provides access to three major rail carriers, though the eventual development of a rail park will streamline operations for those relying on truck and rail transport. Plans for the park are well underway, with a developer committed to the project. The Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport is within the CentrePort vicinity, offering a 24/7 cargo service that is one of the busiest in Canada. Having three modes of transportation within easy reach is the ideal situation for businesses that rely on frequent shipping and receiving. Global companies like Boeing and MacDon are joined by smaller, local companies — Manitoba Harvest Hemp Foods, Torque Brewing and Bee Maid Honey, to name a few — that have chosen CentrePort as their manufacturing and distribution base. Even e-commerce giant Amazon has chosen to open a delivery centre in the nearby Inkster Industrial Park, relying on the transportation connections in the area to make more efficient deliveries to local customers. Activity in and around CentrePort has been a bright light in uncertain times. The forward movement, the creation of jobs, the plans for expansion — they're all signs that good things are to come, and are in fact, already happening. "Since we started, and really in the past few years, there's been an acceleration in the development of this area," says Gray. "Anyone who drives through CentrePort can see and feel how much the area is changing." ■ CENTREPORT CANADA FULL SPEED AHEAD Development wheels are in perpetual motion at CentrePort BY TRINA REHBERG BOYKO Photo courtesy of CentrePort Canada

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