Sarnia, ON – The Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership (SLEP) welcomed a group of commercial and industrial real estate professionals from across Ontario last week for a two-day Industrial Familiarization Tour designed to introduce the region’s industrial parks, investment-ready lands, and community assets to prospective site selectors and commercial and industrial realtors.
Held on September 24 and 25, the tour was organized by SLEP with support from local municipalities, land owners, local realtors and the Sarnia-Lambton Association of Realtors, and other community partners. Eighteen realtors, brokers, and developers from markets including Toronto, London, and Kitchener-Waterloo attended the event, gaining a first-hand look at available development sites and the broader economic landscape of Sarnia-Lambton.
Participants toured several of the region’s strategic industrial and business parks, including privately owned brownfield and greenfield properties in Sarnia and St. Clair Township representing heavy industry and large-scale manufacturing potential, and gained exposure to municipally owned sites in Sarnia, Lambton Shores and Warwick Township. In addition to a tour of the innovation and commercialization assets of the Western Sarnia-Lambton Research Park, the tour also included visits to community assets and waterfront areas that contribute to the region’s appeal for workforce attraction and quality of life.
“Exposure leads to opportunity. This tour was about drawing new eyes to the region and heightening the visibility of Sarnia-Lambton for those that deal with industrial development across Ontario,” said Matthew Slotwinski, CEO of the Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership. “When regional stakeholders like these realtors physically see the prime industrial land, the infrastructure, logistics capabilities, industrial interconnectivity, and the partnerships we have in place, it brings Sarnia-Lambton to mind when considering site selection potential with their current and future industrial clients.”
Project coordinator Theresa Kimmerly has emphasized the importance of regional relationship building to promote visibility and accessibility of resources. “One of the most valuable parts of the event was the opportunity to build meaningful connections between our external partners and the local economic development community. These relationships help ensure that when opportunities come up, there’s already a foundation of trust and understanding in place to move forward together and create positive outcomes.”
Throughout the two days, SLEP staff and municipal partners, including the economic development teams of Lambton Shores, Sarnia, and Warwick Township, shared insights on the region’s strengths across multiple sectors, including manufacturing, energy, sustainable chemistry, hydrogen, and value-added agriculture. Attendees learned about the region’s strategic advantages, including its Foreign Trade Zone Point designation, low development costs, infrastructure capacities, and strong local innovation ecosystem.
“The Industrial Familiarization Tour provided valuable insights into Sarnia and Lambton County's robust industrial landscape, skilled workforce, and prime business opportunities,” said Sean MacDougall, MBA, Sales Representative of CBRE in London. “The tour fostered critical connections, strengthening collaboration between organizations and individuals dedicated to attracting and supporting industrial businesses in the region.”
The tour is part of SLEP’s broader investment attraction strategy, designed to strengthen relationships with industry professionals and promote the long-term growth potential of the Sarnia-Lambton area. For more information about available industrial properties or Sarnia-Lambton’s investment advantages, visit: www.sarnialambton.on.ca
About the Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership:
Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership (SLEP) is the lead economic development agency for the Sarnia-Lambton area. Funded by the County of Lambton, we focus on promoting the distinct advantages Sarnia-Lambton proudly offers companies and residents. By coordinating community-based economic development initiatives and maintaining a commercially attractive environment, we foster new business creation, help ensure that established firms remain and grow here, and work to attract growing businesses to the Sarnia-Lambton area.
For Media Inquiries:
Arianne Garcia
Marketing & Communications Manager
Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership
(519) 332 1820 ext 225
arianne@sarnialambton.on.ca
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