On Monday, Chatham-Kent council approved the purchase proposals of approximately 3 acres of property in the Bloomfield Business Park.
The Bloomfield Business Park is getting a new crop of businesses.
Mannat Gears and Differentials Inc. and Ontime 4 Logistics Inc. want to buy approximately three acres of land at the Bloomfield Business Park for $266,110 and relocate their Mississauga head office to Chatham. Mannat Gears and Differentials Inc. recently purchased 5.5 acres in the Blenheim Business Park to build a large warehouse and want to have their entire operations in Chatham-Kent.
Mannat Gears and Differentials is an auto parts manufacturer specializing in light-duty and heavy-duty transmission gears and steering parts with its principal customers being auto parts importers, distributors, retailers, and repair shops worldwide.
Ontime 4 Logistics, a dispatching and operations company that finds logistical solutions for its customers, is currently located in Mississauga and also wants to move its entire operations to Chatham.
The new facility is expected to employ a minimum of eight full-time positions and six part-time staff, including warehouse forklift operators, packing, shipping and receiving, accountant, and office manager.
Mayor Canniff said it's always exciting when the municipality attracts new industries and creates jobs.
"They liked Chatham-Kent so much they're moving their head office here. So, they're leaving the GTA and coming down here. Both of them are looking for very quick closes because they want to get moving and get building out there. It's very exciting news for Chatham-Kent," said Canniff.
A soon-to-be-formed corporation also wants to move its operations from the Greater Toronto Area to Chatham and is proposing to buy 2.5 acres at the Bloomfield Business Park for $222,500.
The facility is expected to employ a minimum of 15 to 20 full-time high-paying positions in engineering and electrical and more jobs created by future tenants. Two-thirds of the 30,000 square foot space will be used by the corporation, which is made up of three companies, and the remaining 10,000 square feet will be leased initially.
A report going to council on Monday night states the companies estimate they have the potential to triple their workforce as they grow and if they are successful in finding qualified staff.
Zirconium Consultancy Services is currently based out of Guelph and offers safety services for the manufacturing sector.
Attesta International Safety Certification Inc. is currently based in Mississauga and provides electrical safety testing, inspection and field evaluation services.
Quantum First Automation Inc. operates from Mississauga and manufactures high-quality electrical and electronic components.
The three companies currently provide electrical components, inspections and maintenance, and repair services to major automotive manufacturers.
Canniff said it didn't take much to convince them to move to Chatham and things moved really fast from the start.
"It goes back to laying the groundwork. We have the land, we have location, location, location, and we've been advertising out and they saw the advertisements. They came and it was pretty quick," Mayor Canniff said. "They came down and within two weeks of when we started talking to them, they put an offer in. It's exciting, people are recognizing that Chatham-Kent is the place to be."
An agreement states that if the purchasers don't start construction within a year, the municipality can buy back the property at its original price.
Council votes on these land purchases at their meeting on Monday night.