Business Climate

With a unique, stable and diversified economy, Antigonish offers value and opportunity to the more than 700 companies that do business here. Agriculture, manufacturing, retail, construction, information technology, corporate services, education, tourism, and the arts are just some of the industries that benefit from our supportive business climate.

In the last number of years, we have enjoyed steady growth in the service-based sector of the economy in industries like business support services, information technology, retail and government.

Our workforce is skilled and educated, with achievement in post-secondary and trades ranking above the provincial average. A recent growth in our population means we have available labour and resources, not to mention an additional influx of 4,000 new residents annually who come to attend St. Francis Xavier University.

In terms of infrastructure, Antigonish is home to St. Francis Xavier University, the #1 ranked undergraduate university in Canada for the past four years. Antigonish is also the seat of regional healthcare and health administration for northern Nova Scotia. We benefit from accessibility to major transportation routes via national highway, rail, ocean, and air gateways.

The cost of doing business in Antigonish is competitive and reasonable. Antigonish offers a commercial tax rate of $1.48 (County) and $2.36 (Town) per $100.00 of commercial assessment. Lower costs on utility rates and land in a serviced light industrial park add to the benefits of doing business in Antigonish.