Parkland Agricultural Resource Co-op

Welcome to the PARC family of communities...

There are not many places where you can find all the riches of the world in one location, but here you can. The PARC communities are your designation for raw resource development of agricultural and forestry products. With immediate access to all your industry needs, central location to markets, low cost of doing business and a great quality of life - look no further than the PARC region where your future is waiting for you.

The Parkland Agricultural Resource Cooperative (PARC) is a cooperative organization of 9 municipalities in the Parkland region of Manitoba. The communities are focused on developing value-added opportunities for the abundance of raw resources available in the region. The PARC communities form the largest commuter shed and trade corridor in the Parkland region for accessing reliable skilled labour or for attracting and retaining new employees to one of our family friendly communities.

The municipalities are determined to work together to meet the needs of industry and provide whatever assistance necessary to create a successful business in our communities. On behalf of the Mayors and Reeves from the PARC communities, we invite you to revisit our website often and we look forward to the opportunity to earn your business in our communities.

Power of Cooperation...

PARC is working on developing the tools and resources to support capacity building in the region for healthy sustainable communities. The municipalities work together in partnership on economic and social initiatives to protect the integrity of the rural communities. The municipalities have identified the need to build complete communities that strengthen the regional economy. The group has set priorities to create opportunities to add value to the agricultural and forestry resources in the region. The municipalities also share ideas, problem solve on municipal issues and look for ways to work together.

PARC provides assistance to projects that increase the investment in the regions assets through value-adding, industrial technology and research & development. Much of the regions assets are indentified in rich farmland, forests, pristine lakes, natural grasslands and prairie mountains. There are many opportunities to build upon the regions wealth.

PARC acts as an advisory group to promote investment, broker relationships with local trade organizations, government departments and will assist in establishing other strategic alliances with groups in the region, province or nationally to ensure success. We investigate development opportunities that will add value to the agricultural & forestry resources available in the region. We facilitate property selection, regional advocacy & assist with the development prerequisites. We negotiate incentives for commercialization, tax abatements, infrastructure and employment training where appropriate. The municipalities will navigate with community partners to ensure transportation, raw materials and infrastructure needs are met.

Location, Location, Location...

The PARC municipalities are the breadbasket of the Parkland region. There are a number of financial and logistical reasons why companies are looking at the Parkland to grow their business. It is highly unlikely that a company could identify another location so close to such an abundance of raw agricultural and forestry resources with the convenience and close proximity to major centres such as Winnipeg and Brandon Manitoba or Regina and Saskatoon Saskatchewan; and beyond.

Exploring the Tourism Trade…

The variety and beauty of our natural spaces attracts many international visitors who recognize the spectacular untouched environment, cultural festivals and surviving heritage in the region. There are still many undiscovered gems, including tiny hidden lakes waiting to be explored. Tourism — from bird watching to snowmobiling, fly-fishing to golfing, wilderness outfitting to gift boutiquing — is a growing industry in region. There are tremendous year round business opportunities to support continued growth and untapped potential in lake and cottage development.

Safe Quality Resources...

The Parkland is rich in farmland and livestock production. All major grain and oilseed crops including wheat, canola, barley, oats and flax in addition to industrial hemp, borage, forages, pulses and other specialty crops are grown for export market as there are no local processors. With Canada’s integrated food inspection system, Canada sets the standard at an international level. Close proximidy to research and development and high quality agricultuanl production creates a strategic advantage for local processing.

Manitoba’s Gateway...

Whether you’re shipping to Europe, Mexico, and the Pacific Rim or within North America, the Parkland is centrally located to provide a number of options for shipping to your farthest customer. Come learn what our region can do you.

Agri-Opportunities are Wide Open…

With over 5,200 farms, the region continues to build on its agricultural success. From grains and oilseeds to livestock and honey, from industrial hemp to spice, producers in the region are enterprising and open to innovation. They participate in exploring crop alternatives, new techniques and value added opportunities. As well as traditional cattle and hog farms, livestock production includes bison, elk and fallow deer —in fact, nearly half the bison and elk in Manitoba are produced in and around our region.

With highly productive soils, a climate somewhat cooler, wetter and less conducive to crop disease than the south, the region is known for stability in cereal crop production, above average straw yield and low-cost feed grain production. The production of canola has increased more than 730% over the past 30 years.

With experienced and venturesome producers farming in an excellent production environment, there’s no limit to the potential expansion and further diversification of our region’s agribusiness industry.

Building on our Manufacturing and Production Potential…

The can-do attitude of people from the region has resulted in some creative value-added enterprises that contribute significantly to the local economy. Processing of small berries, honey, maple syrup, timothy, alfalfa, trout and production of specialties such as sausage and diabetes friendly foods are just a few examples.

Manufacturing in the area includes production of custom farm equipment, roof trusses, engineered floor joists, ready-to-move homes, outdoor furnaces, dimension lumber and pressure-treated posts and metal fabrication for the agricultural, automotive and aerospace industries.

One of Manitoba’s major players in the construction industry is based in our region and fulfils contracts province wide. In over 25 years in business, Stirling Enterprises has grown to become one of the area’s largest employers.

Known for their strong work ethic and enthusiasm and with unemployment rates typically somewhat higher than southern regions, our people are ready and willing to get to work. With an energized workforce of more than 14,500 of prime employment age within the primary trade area and an extended workforce of 45,000 within a 50-mile radius, the PARC region can supply labour for industrial enterprises of considerable scale and production volume.

At your service

Health, education, hospitality, communication, housing, recreation, financial and all manner of retail and professional services thrive in this vast, diverse region. This contributes greatly to the quality of life enjoyed by our residents, who continue to drive demand for high quality services.