Harbourside Park Sees Continued Growth

Harbourside Commercial Park has plenty to celebrate. The former site of the Sydney Steel plant has hit full capacity, the 14 businesses there are prospering, employing 136 full-time and 20 part time employees, while creating at least that many spinoff jobs.

"The 14 businesses and 136 full-time Cape Breton positions are a great testament to the appeal of the available infrastructure and location of the park," said Bill Estabrooks, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal. "The park has attracted a number of successful entrepreneurs from a variety of sectors that will have a lasting impact on the community."

While many steelworkers have found work through outside contractors, 43 of the 156 employees in the park, are former steelworkers.

Each full-time position at the park, which opened in 2007, indirectly creates one to two additional jobs, either offsite or through outside contractors. Coupled with employment created through the Sydney Tar Pond Agency's extensive projects and the former Sysco pier, the park has a significant impact on the local economy.

Nova Scotia Lands Incorporated, a provincial Crown corporation established to manage the environmental cleanup of the former steel plant site, has recently sold a six-acre lot to a large company for development.

Also in the coming year, a sports facility with a soccer field, walking track, basketball and tennis courts will open in the park.

The province is working with the federal government to plan the future land use of the adjacent Sydney Tar Ponds and former coke ovens site.