The Sarnia Advantage

Sarnia is:

Centrally located in Southwestern Ontario and is situated on major highway, rail, water, and air corridors, providing global access to move people and products.
Accessible from the Blue Water Bridge which connects Highway 402 with U.S. Interstates I-69 and I-94 in Port Huron, Michigan. This is Canada's second-busiest crossing for commercial traffic with over 1.5 million trucks and $42.2 billion in road trade annually, translating to over 4,400 trucks each day carrying $116 million in goods.
Home to Lambton College, an applied research institution whose strength in research and innovation ranks them as the #1 research college in Ontario, and #4 overall across Canada. Nearby post-secondary institutions include Western University, University of Windsor, University of Waterloo, Wilfrid Laurier University, University of Guelph, as well as Fanshawe College and St. Clair College.
A diverse economic area with a strong foundation in advanced manufacturing, petrochemical and refining, agriculture, plastics and rubber manufacturing, cleantech/energy, and ITC. Local companies include Imperial Oil, NOVA Chemicals, Origin Materials, TODA Advanced Materials, Cargill and SNC-Lavalin.

Sarnia offers services for investors, including assistance with planning and development approvals, providing demographic and community information, and coordinating introductions with municipal officials and local suppliers.

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Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) Advantage

Lower Costs. Better Cash Flow. Global Competitiveness.

What is an FTZ?
A Foreign Trade Zone allows businesses to import goods without paying duties or taxes until they enter the Canadian market.

Why It Matters for Your Business in Sarnia:

Defer Duties & Taxes
Pay only when goods enter the domestic market—improve cash flow and liquidity.
Reduce Operating Costs
Save on imported raw materials, parts, and machinery.
Stay Globally Competitive
Lower input costs lead to stronger pricing power and increased export potential.
No Geographic Limits
FTZ benefits apply anywhere in Canada, including right here in Sarnia.

Sarnia’s FTZ access is another reason entrepreneurs and industries thrive here, boosting margins and keeping operations lean.

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Cost Advantages

In 2021 Sarnia was ranked the most affordable medium-sized city in Ontario by Zolo, a leading online real estate marketplace.

In Sarnia you will spend less on: