Opportunities flow in Niagara Falls.

Business Advantages in Niagara Falls

Located in the heart of North America’s most affluent consumer market, Niagara Falls is a dynamic, internationally renowned city with a prosperous business community.

Niagara Falls is built on an economic foundation anchored by tourism, manufacturing, commercial retail, and knowledge-based sectors. We are linked to the world by extensive road, rail, water, air, and telecommunications networks.

In addition to having desirable industrial and commercial real estate, Niagara Falls offers a reasonable cost of living and some of the most attractive residential communities in all of Canada.

When it comes to quality of life, Niagara Falls has other communities beat. Where else can you enjoy all the amenities of a large urban centre in a comfortable, livable community? Whatever you’re looking for you can find it in Niagara Falls or nearby. Arts, culture, recreation, commerce, and peaceful quiet moments - they’re all here in Niagara Falls.

With these advantages and amenities, it’s no wonder that local, national, and international companies exceed their expectations and expand their operations in Niagara Falls. We welcome your business. Come see all the opportunities that flow in Niagara Falls, Canada.

Niagara Falls location in North America

Location

Easy access to over 150 million consumers within a day's drive

Niagara is ‘the link’ between Canada’s largest metropolitan area, Toronto, and 55% of the U.S. population and 60% of Canada’s within one day’s drive. As a result, the Niagara Region is the natural base for American and Canadian companies wishing to reach both of these vibrant markets.

Incentives

Incentives

The City of Niagara Falls has prepared Community Improvement Plans to encourage the rejuvenation of strategic investment areas and older business areas that have experienced economic decline over the years. The Community Improvement Plans contain grant and loan programs that provide incentive for business to build and renovate industrial buildings in Niagara Falls and to improve the appearance and the structure of commercial buildings and conversion of upper floor space for residential use. The City has also prepared a Brownfield Community Improvement Plan which encourages the environmental clean-up and redevelopment of older abandoned industrial and commercial sites that are contaminated or perceived to be contaminated.

Niagara Gateway Economic Zone
Municipal Employment Incentive Program
Niagara Falls Business Directory

Business Directory

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14,000,000
Visitors every year
40%
Niagara Falls generates 40% of Ontario's tourism traffic.

Niagara Regional Broadband Network

Niagara Regional Broadband Network Limited (NRBN) is Niagara's premier choice for data communications services. NRBN is your local telecommunication provider - locally owned by the City of Niagara Falls (75%) and Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake (25%), operating the most extensive fibre network in the Niagara Region. NRBN delivers second to none business Internet and data services with great speed, scalability, and reliability.

Transportation

Transportation in Niagara Falls
  • Ontario’s 400 series highways run through Niagara Falls
  • Connects directly with the U.S. Interstate system
Transportation in Niagara Falls
  • Niagara River
  • St. Lawerence Seaway System
Transportation in Niagara Falls
  • CP and CN rail lines for passenger and freight
  • GO Transit (Rail - seasonal, Bus - daily)
Transportation in Niagara Falls
  • City, Regional and local WEGO bus options
  • GO Transit (Rail - seasonal, Bus - daily)
Transportation in Niagara Falls
  • Municipal airport
  • One hour drive to three international airports
Transportation in Niagara Falls
  • Three international border crossings in the municipality
  • Four international border crossings in Niagara Region

Looking for an ideal location?

Distribution and manufacturing operations choose Niagara Falls for its ideal border location next to New York State and its extensive multi-modal transportation network. With more than 150 million consumers within a day’s drive, just-in-time supply management systems use Niagara’s road, rail, water, and air transport networks to keep products and materials moving between suppliers and customers

Key Industry Sectors

Niagara Falls is a small vibrant city with a big competitive advantage of being strategically situated in the heart of North America’s most affluent consumer industrial marketplaces, in close proximity to the United States borders, and the Greater Toronto Area. Many dynamic companies – local, national, multinational – already proudly call Niagara Falls their home and capitalize on the countless benefits of this economic hub, including a tourism industry attracting 14 million people annually to shop, savour, and stay. These companies recognize its bright future, and their successes are proof that startups, investors, and businesses looking to set up shop and expand have come to the right place. A gem of the Regional Municipality of Niagara, the city is dedicated to the wellbeing of its community, businesses, commercial corridors and workforce through innovative partnerships, policy initiatives and recruitment to attract investment.

For example, Niagara Falls was named one of the Smart21 Communities of the Year by the Intelligent Community Forum for being dedicated to building a digitally intelligent community that supports economic and social development. Spark Niagara provides new start-ups with innovative working space, expert advice and support services. Just move in. Profit from flexible workspaces, a ready workforce of more than 400,000 people, enhanced transportation and proactive economic development initiatives that are already driving smart, strategic growth in key industries, including tourism, commercial retail, and knowledge based sectors. From hospitality to advanced manufacturing and engineering, businesses in Niagara Falls are bringing new technologies to global markets. Businesses are thriving and so are the residents.

01
Advanced Manufacturing

This is one of the fastest-growing sectors in Niagara Falls and accounts for the largest portion of the Niagara Region’s GDP.

Industry Profile PDF
02
Tourism

A global destination, over 14 million people visit, generating over $2.4 billion in tourism spending each year.

Industry Profile PDF
03
Knowledge-based & Professional Services

This is one of the key drivers of our economic strength, bringing new opportunities to your global markets.

Industry Profile PDF
04
Healthcare

Niagara is home to eight hospitals what a new modern South Niagara Hospital opening in Niagara Falls by 2027.

Industry Profile PDF
05
Information & Communication Technology

This sector is one of the strongest emerging sectors in Niagara Falls and in the Region.

Industry Profile PDF

Labour Force

A region-wide labour force draws from a population of over 400,000 people. When new skill-sets are required, local post-secondary institutions such as Brock University and Niagara College are quick to work with industries to develop specialized training programs.

Niagara’s labour force strengths are in post-sedondary educated and skilled-trades workers, with significantly higher proportions of the workforce holding these qualifications than in the province as a whole.

Our entrepreneurs continue to invest in new technologies and adapt to the demands of the global marketplace. Companies are meeting the challenges of the new economy by investing in state-of-the-art facilities and emerging technologies. 52% of Niagara businesses are owner operated.

Development Review Process

The Planning, Building & Development Department in coordination with the Business Development Department is responsible for reviewing and providing a recommendation to Council regarding development applications. The timely processing of applications requires co-operation from and co-ordination with numerous internal and external stakeholders, including the applicant. The City of Niagara Falls prides itself on expediting the Development Review Process for major and minor developments in Niagara Falls as a strategic business advantage.

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