Why Invest in Portage

Portage Advantage: Manitoba’s Agri-Food Powerhouse with Prime Market Access

The Region of Portage la Prairie provides excellent access to key global markets, positioned at the crossroads of major road, rail, and air networks. With a booming agri-food sector, skilled workforce, investment-ready infrastructure, affordable land and competitive hydro rates, the Region provides all the advantages your business needs to grow and succeed.

The Region of Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, Canada is an attractive destination for investors, promoting many diverse international food companies and is thriving ecosystem of clean, family-owned enterprises. It features an Ag Centre of Excellence and a dynamic cluster for industry, positioning the Region as a premier hub for innovation and growth.

A Centre of Agricultural Excellence

The region is a growing hub in the agri-food industry, home to major players like Roquette, Simplot, and McCain, leading innovation in food processing and plant-based proteins. With active collaboration, research, and knowledge-sharing efforts, Portage is positioning itself as Manitoba’s future Agriculture Centre for Excellence.

Our Rail Network Connecting Major Markets

Our Skilled Workforce

The Region’s workforce is highly skilled and diverse, with top employment sectors in healthcare, manufacturing, agriculture, and retail. The workforce is particularly strong in trades, transportation, equipment operations, and sales, offering your business access to a wide range of skilled professionals. With its strategic location and competitive labor market, Portage provides an ideal setting for businesses like yours to leverage a versatile workforce, ensuring growth support in key industries.

Our Strong Talent Pipeline

The Region benefits from proximity to leading educational institutions that help businesses like yours access the talent of tomorrow. Within a two-hour drive are the University of Manitoba (31,000+ students), the University of Winnipeg (11,000+ students), and Red River College (9,400+ students), all providing graduates with expertise in business, healthcare, technology, and engineering. This connection to a robust talent pool ensures that your business has access to a steady supply of skilled workers, ready to support growth and innovation in key industries.

Success Stories

The Region of Portage la Prairie has emerged as a major player in the global agri-food sector, attracting significant investments from industry leaders. Simplot committed $460 million to expand its potato processing facility, increasing production capacity and creating hundreds of new jobs. Meanwhile, Roquette established the world’s largest pea protein facility, investing $600 million, positioning the region at the forefront of the plant-based protein industry. These investments highlight Portage’s strategic location, skilled workforce, and pro-business environment, making it a premier destination for large-scale operations.

Our Population Growth and Diversity

The Region’s population growth, reaching 23,385 in 2023 and projected to increase to 24,326 by 2028, provides your business with a growing customer base and a reliable, expanding workforce. The region’s diversity, with 8% of residents being immigrants from Filipino and South Asian communities, adds cultural richness and new skills to the labor market. With 62.2% of the population in the working-age group (15-64), and strong connections to local First Nations, your business can tap into a young, diverse, and skilled workforce to drive innovation and growth.

Our Business-Friendly Approach

The Region fosters a business-friendly environment with a streamlined concierge-style approach to economic development. The Portage Regional Economic Development team works closely with businesses like yours, providing tailored support, fast-tracking permits, and connecting you to key resources. Strong partnerships with municipal, provincial, and federal governments, combined with a collaborative business community, ensure you have everything needed for your business to thrive.

Testimonial

“What attracted us to Portage is the community. We are neighbours, we are part of the community and being very well accepted by the community is very important.”

Dominque Baumann, Managing Director of Roquette Canada

Our Economic Strengths and Growth

The Region of Portage la Prairie’s economy is powered by key sectors like agriculture, manufacturing, and food processing, with global leaders such as Roquette—home to the world’s largest pea protein facility—and Simplot, which recently expanded its potato processing operations. The region’s agri-food sector continues to thrive, attracting further investment from companies like McCain. Portage also benefits from strong contributions in healthcare and retail, creating a balanced and diverse economy. This combination of growth across multiple industries makes Portage an ideal location for your business to expand and succeed.