Investing in land west of airport will generate jobs and millions in tax revenue: city report
A major investment to service the industrial lands just west of Winnipeg’s airport is expected to yield thousands of new jobs and millions of dollars in additional taxes, a new city report concludes.
Public service report reveals that a 30-year, $113 million plan to extend water and sewer service to airport lands west could generate up to 16,000 full-time jobs .
By then, governments would also cash in, with about $129 million in tax revenue generated for the federal government each year, $107 million for the province and $80 million for the city, the report said.
All financial benefits are based on 2020 dollars and tax rates.
“It justifies the investment…this report shows that there is a return on investment for the city and for the provincial government and the federal government,” the councilor said. Scott Gillingham, who leads the board’s finance committee.
Council recently voted to allocate $20 million for the first phase of $60 million of servicing, subject to equal funding from the provincial and federal governments.
Gillingham said the potential investment marks a critical step in securing the city’s economic future, as job creation not only generates taxes, but can incentivize people to move to Winnipeg and prevent current residents from leaving.
The 3,600 acres of land in the West Airport Zone are bordered by the Rural Municipality of Rosser to the north, the James Armstrong Richardson International Airport to the east, Saskatchewan Avenue to the south and the Perimeter Road to the west. Industry is expected to cover 2,535 acres, with the remainder reserved for housing.
Economic Development Winnipeg has repeatedly urged the city to service more industrial land to accelerate its financial recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Joyanne Pursaga
Journalist
Born and raised in Winnipeg, Joyanne loves telling the stories of this city, especially when it comes to politics. Joyanne became a reporter at City Hall for the Winnipeg Free Press in early 2020.
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