Regina’s quiet boom is now emerging as a significant force that is catching the eye of business owners, real estate investors and real estate investment trusts across the country. The city’s low cost of doing business continues to attract companies to Regina, contributing to a record low unemployment rate of 4.0 percent, compared to the 6.1 percent national average as of February 2007. Here are more reasons why Regina has become a premier city for real estate investment:

• Regina’s GDP now exceeds $7 billion, accounting for 22 percent of Saskatchewan’s economy

• Twenty percent of the province’s residents live in Regina with the largest portion (nearly 30 percent) in the 25 to 44 age group

• Employment increases are being seen in construction, service industries, education and oil/gas/mining

• Regina is considered a competitive and business friendly environment due to its,
• Low cost of doing business including some of the lowest office and light industrial lease rates
• Highly skilled, educated and productive workforce
• Central location
• Affordable real estate
• A work commute of less than 20 minutes
• Leading edge telecommunications infrastructure

• The city’s resource based economy if fueled by agriculture, oil and natural gas exploration and production and telecommunications

• Other thriving industries include,
• Insurance, financial and data management services
• Electrical and electronic equipment
• Film and video production
• Call centres
• Potash and nitrogen fertilizer production

• KPMG recently ranked Regina as one of the most affordable places to do business in Western Canada

• In 2000, Regina eliminated the business tax in an effort to make the city more attractive to companies

• The City of Regina has approved a $1 billion investment in residential, commercial and light industrial development

• The southwest region of the city is anticipated to be the next retail boom area with development slated for 2008, contributing to Regina’s ranking as one of the best cities for new retail land development

• The University of Regina is in a period of unprecedented growth and expansion, including the near-term development of a $19 million research laboratory

• The university’s campus footprint has more than doubled since 1997 and with an expanded summer programs schedule and enrollment near 9,000 students, it is well on its way toward reaching the long range goal of accommodating 25,000 full-time students

• The Regina Research Park, adjacent to the University of Regina, is expanding to accommodate Internet and software development companies and is the future site of a new $27 million provincial health laboratory that is slated for completion in March 2008

• Regina is home to the world-renowned Royal Canadian Mounted Police Training Academy and the soon to be opened $15.8 million RCMP Heritage Museum