Community Profile

The following page contains information that you, as an entrepreneur or an established business person, want to know about the City of Camrose. Information and statistics such as labour supply, market size, and other relevant marketing research is available below.

Table of Contents

Executive Summary

Executive Summary

Camrose is a good place to do business

Camrose is home to over 16,000 people and over 1000 thriving businesses, including several major manufacturers. Business people choose Camrose for good reasons:

An ideal location:

• An immediate trading area of 140,000 and an hour's drive from a market population of 3/4 million.
• Excellent network of highway, rail and air transportation gives Camrose easy access to markets.
• A full range of business services.

Lower costs:

• Lower costs of industrial land and buildings.
• No business tax.
• No tax on Manufacturing Equipment

Diverse, sophisticated labor force:

Made up of non-union, rural, non-transient young people already instilled with a solid work ethic.

Camrose welcomes entrepreneurs and businesses:

• A cooperative mayor and council consider economic development a priority.
• The City's Economic Development Office gives you personal attention to make sure you get what you need to locate in Camrose.
• An abundant supply of residential and industrial land is readily available.
• Camrose has no business tax, and no tax on manufacturing equipment.
• Agricultural Financial Services Corp., Economic Development Dept. office in Camrose offers business information and consultation free of charge (contact Head Office (4910 52 Street) at 780-679-1311).
• East Central Alberta Community Futures Development Corporation - www.telusplanet.net/public/ecacfdc Phone: (780) 336-3497, Fax: (780) 336-2266, Email:

The Camrose Community Promotes Camrose Business:

• Thriving, active and supportive organizations such as the Chamber of Commerce and Camrose Regional Exhibition Association sponsor numerous events to bring business to Camrose.

Excellent quality of life:

• The best of both worlds - big city amenities and small town friendliness.
• Excellent education facilities, from playschool to degree-granting university college to non-credit adult education.
• Individual and team sports for children and adults; several international competitions (the Viking Cup, for example); and superior parks and recreational facilities.
• First class medical services.
• Theatre, music, art and numerous cultural events, (for example the Big Valley Jamboree - Canada's Premier Outdoor Country Music Festival.)
• Essential protective services including an accredited police service, an effective fire department, and an Emergency Medical Team - Ambulance (EMT-A).

Camrose is a dynamic, thriving, and involved community.
Make it your home!

Market Size and Population

Access to markets:
Camrose has an immediate trading area population of 140,000 and is only an hour's drive from a market population of 3/4 million. Camrose is equidistant from Vancouver and Winnipeg markets.

Families and Dwellings Statistics (2006):

The population of Camrose provides both a ready market and a stable labour supply.

Population:

• City of Camrose............15,850
• Camrose County .........7,160
• Total Trading Area.....140,000

Age of Residents (2005):
(Average Age: years)

Percentage of population in the work force...30%

Labour

Camrose employers find it easy to get and keep the kind of staff they need - staff with the skills and work attitudes that make a business profitable.

• Ample Labor Supply
  With a City population of 16,000 and a surrounding County population of 7,160, the Camrose area has about 22,850 citizens from which to draw employees.
  About 30% of City residents, or about 4,575 people, are in the work force. The Camrose rate of unemployment, while lower than in some other parts of Alberta, provides an ample supply of people who are anxious to go to work.

• Skilled Workers
  Many Camrose and area workers have a skilled and diverse agricultural background. As a noted education centre, Camrose also has many residents with a sophisticated grasp of modern technology.

• Strong Work Ethic
  The work force is traditionally non-transient, with a strong work ethic.

Camrose Labour Force by Industry (2006):

Land

The cost of doing business is lower in Camrose due to City policies that keep facility costs comparatively low.

For some years, the City of Camrose has maintained a land bank whereby large tracks of land on the perimeter of the City are purchased and gradually developed into industrial parks and residential subdivisions. This policy stabilizes land prices.

• Industrial Land
  Fully serviced lots are available in the City-owned industrial park in southeast Camrose. Some industrial lots are on rail spur lines.
  The City's Economic Development Coordinator (Dennis Twomey, 780-678-3025) will be pleased to provide more information and arrange a tour of industrial land.

• Commercial and Retail Space
  Camrose has supply of retail, office and light industrial space. Rental and lease rates compare favorably with rates in other centres. If you decide to build, you will find land prices are reasonable and construction costs competitive in Camrose.

• Residential Land
  An excellent supply of residential lots is available in both private and City-owned developments.
  Because of lower land and building costs, Camrose residents enjoy a better standard of living than they could afford in other centres.

• A Stable Housing Market
  Camrose has a stable supply of homes, with a solid steady increase in home sales and prices.

Transportation

• Highways
  Highways 13, 21, and 26 and several secondary roads lead to Camrose. The Highway 2 corridor is just half an hour away. Camrose has 14 trucking/delivery firms, three courier services, Greyhound bus service several times daily, as well as three taxi companies.

• Rail
  Rail Service is provided by both Canadian National and Canadian Pacific. Camrose is one of the few Alberta centres outside of Edmonton and Calgary to have free interchange between the two railways. Spur lines are available in two industrial parks.

• Air
  Camrose Airport, home to dozens of private planes, has a paved and lighted 1,372m (4,500 feet) airstrip, terminal building, hangars and tie-downs. This airport is equipped with NBD and DMR navigational aids and fuel is available 24 hours per day. Camrose is 45 minutes from Edmonton International Airport.

Taxes

• Property Taxes
  • Assessment: $1.37 billion(+/-) (2007).
  • Commercial/Industrial Mill Rate: 19.7699 (2007)
  • Residential Mill Rate: 11.9645 (2007)
  
  
• Business Tax
  Camrose has no business tax, and no tax on manufacturing equipment.

Local business services

Civic Protection:
Camrose City Police, Royal Canadian Mounted Police detachment, Camrose County Police, Municipal Fire Department, Ambulance, and By-Law Enforcement.

Communication:
Two newspapers (Camrose Booster and Canadian) and cable television.
Two radio stations (CFCW, CamFM).

Financial Services:
Four banks, Treasury Branch, 2 - Credit Unions.

• Federal: Canada Post, Department of Agriculture, Canada Employment Centre, Farm Credit Corporation, Farm Labour Pool, Federal Member of Parliament constituency office, RCMP, Veteran's Land Administration.
• Provincial: Advanced Education and Manpower, Agriculture, Agricultural Financial Services Corporation (Lending Division Head Office), Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission (AADAC), Battle River Regional Division #31, Court House, Disaster Services, East Central Health, Economic Development and Tourism, Energy and Natural Resources, Environment, Labour, Mental Health Services, Recreation and Parks, Social Services.

Accomodations:
Seven locations with a total of 450(+) rooms. Two hotels are proposed.
1 Bed & Breakfast.

Postal Service:
Door to door service daily.

Professional Services:

• Eighteen accountants,
• Four law offices, and
• Five real estate firms.

Transportation Service:

• Railways: CNR and CPR freight; free interchange, daily service.
• Trucking: Fourteen firms, terminal facilities
• Courier: Three companies; daily service.
• Bus Service: Greyhound, passenger and freight, three buses daily.
• Taxi Services
• Airport: Paved 1,372 metres (4,500 feet) NDB, DME lighted dusk till dawn, APAPI lights, Edmonton International Airport only 72 km (46 miles) northwest of Camrose, and 24 hour aviation fuel service.

• Water and sewage system owned and operated by the City of Camrose.
• Electricity: Epcor Inc.
• Natural gas: Direct Energy

Business support services

Community

A Great Place to Live

Camrose places a high priority on economic development, but we know, like you, that there's more to life than business. Camrose has a quality of life that is second to none. We have the best of both worlds - big city amenities with small town friendliness and security.

• Camrose Citizens get involved. You'll notice people making things happen at trade fairs, jamborees, service clubs, church events, and festivals. We have fun while getting things done.

• Camrose is an Educational Centre.
  • University of Alberta, Augustana Campus is an arts and science "Degree-Granting" institution.
  • Canadian Lutheran Bible Institute and Gardner College offer Degrees in Theology.
  • Camrose Public and Separate School Systems provide kindergarten to grade twelve, including vocational and special education programs.
  • Battle River Regional Division #31 has its head office located in Camrose.
  
  
• Camrose Citizens Emphasize Culture, Arts, and Entertainment Events. Camrose is a Regional Center for Arts and Culture. The Camrose Arts Centre is a focal point for very active photography, art, craft and dance groups. Camrose also has an active theatre and music community. Entertainment events such as Big Valley Jamboree, Rodeos and other exciting events are often hosted by the Camrose Regional Exhibition. Camrose is home to the Camrose Railway Museum, check out this video on Travel Alberta for more information.
  
  

• Camrose has so many sports it's hard not to get involved. Whether your sport is golf, skiing, racquetball, swimming, hockey, aerobics, curling, soccer, volleyball, basketball, slow pitch, fastball, or just walking in the park, you can do it in Camrose. Our schools and recreation department offer sports for children too. Many of our athletes compete at world class events.

• Camrose Cares for People.
  • Camrose has become a unique and active retirement center, with a Seniors' Centre, Adult Community Developments, Senior Apartment Complexes, Home services, lodges and extended care facilities. Many of these facilities were constructed and are operated by the Bethany Group which is a private sector organization.
  • We care for young people too. Camrose and District Support Services provides homemaker services, counseling, day care, preschool programs and numerous other services.
  • Camrose has First Class medical services provided by St. Mary's Hospital and the Smith Clinic.
  • Camrose is the home for the Head Office of East Central Health.
  • Crown Care - Phone: (780) 672-1332, Fax (780) 672-4401
  • Grand Trunk - Phone: (780) 672-5643
  • Field Stone - Phone: (780) 672-8835

You'll Want to Come Home to Camrose, where ten minutes gets you anywhere in town, where "rush hour" lasts only five minutes, and where people care about you.

	City of CamroseWelcomeVisitorsCommunityAdministrationLeisureEngineeringProtective            We welcome your feedback Updated April 8, 2008