"It continues to be a good news story for Portage la Prairie." That's Vern May, Executive director of Portage Regional Economic Development describing the economic growth taking place in the city.

"We just came from the Provincial Economic Development Conference last week," explains May. "And you hear about the challenges and the successes of the jurisdictions. Portage la Prairie finds ourselves in an enviable position where we had to stay silent in a lot of those conversations because we've got so much activity. We've got so much investment interest, and it hasn't slowed down."

May says, when Roquette made its announcement to locate the world's largest pea protein processing facility here, people didn't believe it. Then Simplot expanded, and the community realized what was happening. May notes now that spinoffs are taking place, with more announcements all of the time, it's a momentum that's continuing,

He relates how the last quarter shows the Daughters On Call assisted living project taking place on 18th Street NW and Park Drive. May adds digging should begin any moment.

May explains Bokhari Developments is proceeding with a housing development near the assisted living project. He says the housing progress that's taking place is the most exciting visible thing happening right now. The Broad Street Properties project near the clinic and the V & J Vionell Holdings project near École Arthur Meighen School are all exciting. May notes in the next few weeks we'll see more stories as well.

He adds success has been articulated in dollars over the last several quarterly reports. The significance of that is that reports usually express news in concept forms, with deals in progress that take time to mature and close. Having said that, May notes, the city's last quarter has a $145,000 land sale that will lead to a $2.5 million development.

May explains Portage has maintained a level of visibility beyond just our jurisdiction. He says Travel Manitoba's Inspiration Guide shows Portage highlighted, along with North Dakota's Lake Region Guide, Central Manitoba Tourism Guide, and this month we're featured in Horizon Magazine from Toronto. The Western Investor publication from Vancouver also has content about us, virtually putting Portage la Prairie in the hands of Canadians nationwide.