Basing business in or near Berwick

BY SARA KEDDY

Kings County Register

Is there business opportunity out there?

Enough to warrant a new industrial park around Berwick?

A study is underway now to look at the need for business space in Kings County, but it’s a partnership that could bolster the Western end of the county.

“Anything good for one is good for all,” says Kings County Warden Fred Whalen.

Berwick Mayor John Prall and Whalen have been leading discussions between both councils for several months; with agreement to pursue a joint industrial park development, consultants’ work is being carried out now to define demand, identify possible sites for the park and even potential tenants.

“I don’t doubt for a minute we could fill an industrial park,” Whalen says.

The Kentville industrial park is busy, and Kentville town policy for wellfield protection has recently limited certain future industrial development. The Kings Community Economic Development Agency’s 2006 business, retention and expansion survey found many Kings-based businesses interested in growth but lacking space. The agency also talks to outside business interests which may consider Kings for future operations.

Berwick’s industrial growth potential is limited: the old bakery is located on the downtown main street, the Avon site is now privately-owned and Larsens’ future has forced town council to look at its tax base, always healthier with industrial assessment.

“A new park could be a partnership with the county and the town - and there’s more of a chance of success,” says Whalen, pointing to provincial two-thirds funding for the feasibility study.

“The province likes to see partnerships.”

Initial thinking has a development sited close enough to town to take advantage of Berwick’s sewer and electrical utilities. There is no municipal water supply in the area. Whalen expects the county would play an important role in land acquisition and rezoning, or even allowing annexation of lands by the town.

Business officials are behind the early stages of the project. In a release, Andy Woolaver of the Eastern Kings Chamber of Commerce’s advocacy committee said that chamber “identified examining the issue of lack of industrial space as its top priority for 2007.” Western Kings Board of Trade president Linda Ramsay told her directors at their July meeting there has already been a “good discussion around what types of business it could attract.

“We wouldn’t be happy with a development where you see an industrial park grow up at Highway 101 so people never come into the community,” she said.

The consultants’ report is expected in November.