Hundreds of employment opportunities coming to Barrie
A groundbreaking in Barrie's south end Tuesday afternoon marks a new subdivision of eco-friendly industrial buildings.
"We haven't seen a new subdivision like this in Barrie for almost 20 years, and it's required. There's been a lack of industrial lands and buildings available for local businesses and for businesses that want to grow outside and bring their businesses to Barrie," said TJ Rinomato, co-founder of Rinomato Group of Companies.
- Download the CTV News app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates sent to your email inbox
Barrie Mayor Alex Nuttall was on hand for the event at 80 Big Bay Point Road and noted the demand for more job opportunities in the city.
"Obviously, the community has been growing in terms of housing and population, and we need to make sure it's not just a place people rest their head at night, it's a place where they get to enjoy the whole community and to work here. So, it's really important we get these jobs here in the City of Barrie, and it's really important that we attract that investment," he said.
Over a million square feet of land will be developed, with various businesses setting up shop.
"There's going to be manufacturing of all different types of materials, both construction related, materials and everything from cosmetics to clothing wear and tech jobs are going to be created here," said Rinomato.
Pre-construction alone created almost 250 jobs, with hundreds more on the way.
"Once we get our building permits for the undergrounds and get going, we'll employ over 500 construction jobs to start. Building the actual buildings, we'll employ over 1,500 construction jobs, and then once the buildings are done, a minimum of 1,500 jobs will be created in the subdivision," said Rinomato.
Officials said if all goes as planned, asphalt is set to be down by November, and construction will be completed by the end of 2024.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING | Notorious serial killer Paul Bernardo moved to medium-security prison in Quebec
Notorious serial rapist and killer Paul Bernardo was moved to a medium-security prison in Quebec this week.

Canada's 'unprecedented' fire season linked to climate change, will be the new normal: scientists
At the moment, wildfires are burning across six provinces and one territory in Canada — and they’re still spreading in what’s being called an unprecedented fire season. While firefighters work tirelessly to battle the merciless flames and prevent further destruction, scientists say the wildfires are linked to climate change and that this will be the new normal.
Trudeau raises Poland's democratic backsliding as prime minister visits Toronto
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he raised concerns about reports that LGBTQ2S+ rights and democracy are under threat in Poland during a Friday visit with its prime minister, Mateusz Morawiecki, in Toronto.
Air Canada says to expect further travel disruptions following Thursday's IT issues
Air Canada says travellers should be prepared for further flight disruptions as it works to return service to normal following a technical malfunction Thursday.
'Torch has been passed': What younger generations need to know about inheriting a family cottage
As more Canadians pass their family cottages down to the next generation, 'major shifts' in the ownership of recreational homes will occur, according to Re/Max. But amid concerns around the cost of housing, some may be wondering whether they can afford to keep that family cottage. Here's what younger generations need to know about inheriting a recreational property and the market today.
'Utterly disgusting': Canadian Army sergeant fined for 'anti-Jewish' comments
A 38-year-old sergeant in the Canadian Army was fined $3,000 and issued a severe reprimand after he made what a military judge described as 'utterly disgusting' anti-Jewish comments while conducting an infantry training course in 2021.
Poilievre tries to head off PPC vote as Bernier bets on social conservatives
Pierre Poilievre is off to Manitoba to rally Conservative supporters ahead of a byelection that Maxime Bernier is hoping will send him back to Parliament. The far-right People's Party of Canada leader lost his Quebec seat in the 2019 federal vote and lost again in the 2021 election.
Experts warn of 'rapid' growth of IBD as number of Canadians diagnosed set to reach 470K by 2035
The number of people in Canada with inflammatory bowel disease is increasing rapidly and is expected to grow to 470,000 by 2035, according to a new report from Crohn's and Colitis Canada.
Trudeau continues to stand by David Johnston despite calls that he step down
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he is committed to keeping David Johnston in place as Canada's special rapporteur on foreign interference, despite a majority of MPs voting in favour of his stepping down from the gig.