Infrastructure Investments are Quality of Life Investments
Quality of life is multifaceted and with an aging population, changing labour demands and competition for talent, investments in infrastructure is about investments in people and investments for economic development.
Infrastructure investments by the City of St. John’s and partners improve the lives of citizens and are important to supporting the city’s attractiveness for people, post-secondary students, businesses and investments.
| |
New Mews Centre currently under construction near Mundy Pond, St. John's. | |
A sample of these investments:
-
The Fortis Canada Games complex, a key piece of infrastructure for the 2025 Canada Games, will be a world-class facility benefiting athletes of all ages. The legacy of hosting the Canada Games will be added new or improved facilities and in the long term of for use by athletes and recreation users.
-
New Mews Centre - St. John’s continues to invest in and enhance our spaces and facilities, to foster connection in our communities and promote health and wellness.
-
The City supports the East Coast Trail Association, that protects the natural coastal landscape while providing hikers with access to freely enjoy world class natural hiking experiences.
-
Village Green playground has opened in Galway, the first phase of this park development project.
-
Improving our transportation network is about growing a safe, accessible, balanced network through the expansion of shared use paths projects and continued investment in Metrobus and GoBus transit.
-
Choices for Youth Social Enterprise and Innovation Hub – The City, a supporter in the investment, will transform an older commercial building at 340 Lemarchant Road into an energy efficient, accessible space.
Investments in roads, parks, facilities, and public transit create the kind of economic and social opportunities necessary for individuals and communities to thrive.
| |
Call for Performers
The City of St. John’s is seeking performers for the 2024 special events season. Our annual Call for Performers helps the City program arts and cultural performances for special events like the Music @ concert series, Dockside Welcomes and other City of St. John’s hosted events and festivals. We invite solo and group applications in all the performing arts disciplines. To apply, performers are required to complete and submit the online application form during the open call. The deadline to apply is Friday, March 29, 2024.
| |
St. John’s Seeking Public Input on New Recreation Master Plan
The City of St. John’s is seeking ideas and feedback from the community to help it develop a new Recreation Master Plan. Councillor Jill Bruce, the lead for community connections, says the objective is to build an innovative and progressive roadmap to guide the delivery of meaningful recreation services for all ages abilities for years to come.
Public sessions will take place in the Goulds March 12, at Kenmount Terrace March 13 and via Zoom March 20. Feedback will be received until March 31.
| |
Clean energy industry momentum building in NL as Canada supports new green hydrogen project
World Energy GH2 has secured a $128- million credit facility (a type of pre-approved loan) through Export Development Canada to support the development of Project Nujio’qonik, located on the west coast of Newfoundland and Labrador. The project is to include two to three wind farms in and around Stephenville to initially produce about 250,000 tonnes of hydrogen a year. The World Energy GH2 project is currently undergoing provincial environmental assessment.
| |
Improved retention rates - immigration uptick
Statistics Canada has released data on provincial retention rates for newcomers both one year and five years after they arrive in Canada. The study looked at the percentage of immigrants who filed taxes in the province or territory where they intended to live, as indicated in their permanent residence application, one and five years after admission to Canada.
Overall, the report found that immigrant retention rates were on the rise in Atlantic Canada while retention rates in the prairie provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba showed a decline. The study notes that the one-year rate of retention in Newfoundland and Labrador grew from 55% for those admitted in 2016 to 66.4% for those admitted in 2020.
A higher rate of retention for skilled workers in the Atlantic provinces can be linked to the launch of the Atlantic Immigration Program. Newfoundland and Labrador saw a bump of 18.7 percentage points between 2016-2020, from 31.3% to 50%.
While the overall trend line is positive, it’s not a straight line. Retention rates — whether five-year or one-year, have experienced higher peaks in some Atlantic provinces over the period. The study notes that retaining economic immigrants has always played a key role in relieving regional labour shortages.
| |
econext asking NL businesses to reach out about their solid waste streams
Econext is looking to work with businesses in Newfoundland and Labrador to help them address their waste management challenges.
“Sometimes there is value to be found in the things that we are sending right to the landfill,” said Kieran Hanley, econext‘s CEO. “When a business is able to do something else with its waste streams – a number of positive things can happen.”
Interested businesses can get in touch with econext to learn more econext.ca.
| |
Are you 29 or younger and need help getting started or figuring out your next step as a Musician? MusicNL is now a Youth Ventures site! 🍋
Reach out to: music@youthventuresnl.com
| |
Braya Renewable Fuels LP has announced the first commercial production of a renewable diesel product at their converted plant near St. John's in Come By Chance, NL. | |
St. John's travellers looking to get to Canada's capital (#YOW) have a new direct flight coming this summer from Porter Airlines at St. John's International Airport. Full story: https://loom.ly/AHh-tl4. | |
The City of St. John’s has released its Economic Review 2023, our annual report on economic indicators for the St. John’s CMA. The economy showed signs of improvement in many indicators last year. Economic Review 2023. | |
Government of Canada Business Supports | |
Finding business resources this tax season
Tax season is here. While individuals can start filing their tax returns on February 19, 2024, businesses have varying deadlines. As you get ready to do your taxes, check out the Canada Revenue Agency’s resources for small and medium businesses to find tax-related services and information. Find resources at: https://www.canada.ca
| |
Upcoming Courses and Events | |
Questions About Starting a Business | |
Our knowledgeable staff are here to help
Starting a new business is a busy and exciting time, and requires careful planning. Here at the City of St. John's Business Information Centre, we know our way around town and we'd be happy to connect you to the programs, resources and contacts you need to help make it happen. Get in touch. We're here to help.
| |
We'd love to hear from you
Do you have a good St. John's business news story to tell? Do you have feedback on what you would like to see covered in our monthly publication? Send your ideas to advantage@stjohns.ca
| |
Latest Economic Indicators
| |
City building permits March 5, 2024
Commercial permits
Down 87% from $18,426,389 in 2023 to $2,439,365 in 2024
Industrial permits
Valued at $0 for 2023 and $0 for 2024
Government/institutional permits
Up from $0 in 2023 to $1,138,500 in 2024*
Residential permits
Up 3% to $5,428,702 for 2024 over $5,268,767 for 2023
Repair permits
Up 323% from $40,815 in 2023 to $172,614 in 2024
Total value of all permits for 2024
Down -61% to $9,179,181 for 2024 over $23,735,971 for 2023
*This data does not include the full range of permit activity undertaken by the provincial government and Memorial University.
| | |
Business approvals
Anchorless Tattoos, 644 Topsail Road
Bow to the Wow Pet Grooming, 357 Main Road
Little Stars Daycare, 400 Topsail Road
Black Cat Pizza, 13 Lemarchant Road
Crepaulie, 48 Kenmount Road
Planet Fitness, 710 Torbay Road
Treehouse Daycare Ltd., 50 Airport Road
Home-based businesses
Family home childcare, 106 Old Pennywell Road
Dog grooming salon, 29 Palm Drive
Family home childcare, 47 Oxen Pond Road
Plumbing business office, 29 Borden Street
Total HVAC & Controls Corp., 815 Main Road
Total business approvals for 2024 = 23 (regular = 15 and home-based = 8)
| |
Labour force characteristics as of February 2024
Labour force – 126,700 (up 3.3%)
Unemployment rate – 6.3% (up 0.3ppts)
Employment – 118,700 (up 3.0%)
Participation rate – 65.5% (down -0.1ppts)
St. John's CMA, seasonally adjusted, three-month moving average. Percentage change reflects the same month previous year. Source: Statistics Canada.
| | |
Economic indicators
The New Housing Price Index for St. John’s Metro was 105.8 in January 2024 (down -0.4%*)
The Consumer Price Index for St. John’s Metro was 159.9 in January 2024 (up 2.8%*)
Retail trade for Newfoundland and Labrador was $952 million in December 2023 (down -0.1%*)
*St. John's CMA, same month in the previous year. Source: Statistics Canada
| |
Subscribe to our social media channels to get the latest from Advantage St. John's. | | | | |