Rural Atlantic Canadian Development Thread

[Smevo]

December 14, 2009 Cape Breton Post

Cheticamp River Bridge construction underway

GREG MCNEIL
The Cape Breton Post

CHETICAMP — A 50-year-old connection between the Cape Breton Highlands National Park and a nearby community is getting an upgrade.
Construction has begun on improvements to the Cheticamp River Bridge, considered the link between the Cape Breton Highlands National Park and Cheticamp.
...

December 15, 2009 Cape Breton Post

Strait Area Transit wins award for hiring drivers with disabilities

BY NANCY KING
The Cape Breton Post

PORT HAWKESBURY — Strait Area Transit has been recognized for its hiring of persons with disabilities.
The transit co-operative was one of four regional winners in the province when Lt.-Gov. Mayann Francis recently presented the inaugural Lieutenant Governor’s persons with disabilities employer partnership awards. The awards recognize businesses that have made commitments to accommodate persons with disabilities in the labour market.

...

[Dmajackson]

The brand new Oxford Regional Educational Centre (photo by me);

[MonctonRad]

Abridged from the Moncton T&T

'Huge' gas resource found in Elgin
Published Saturday January 9th, 2010

Tests encouraging, but whether gas can be recovered is another matter
By James Foster
Times & Transcript Staff

A massive natural gas deposit found in this area could equal the size of all of Canada's proven reserves, but whether it ever comes out of the ground remains to be seen.

"You can't say that it's proven yet," cautions Norm Miller, president of Corridor Resources which found the gas and which operates gas wells in the area between here and Sussex.

"What we know and what we've had independently verified . . . is that there is a huge gas resource there, but we say 'resource,' not 'reserve.'"

Corridor believes the amount of gas under the ground in the region is about 60 trillion cubic feet. By comparison, Canada is the western hemisphere's second-largest producer of natural gas, with proven reserves of 58 trillion cubic feet.

What remains up in the air is whether it is technically feasible to recover the gas, and at a price that would make it worthwhile, particularly at a time when North American gas prices are only recently recovering from historic lows.

Residents in the Elgin area are waiting to see what will happen with the massive deposit, and for that matter, so are the two companies involved.

"We are still in the appraisal stage," Mintz says.

Corridor continues to explore and test in the area and Apache will start its work there soon which will consist of testing and further exploration, at this point. How that work will manifest itself depends on what it finds and how its work plays out.

Miller anticipates progress will be "evolutionary," as opposed to a sudden breakthrough.

"The 'Eureka!' moments could come in stages," Miller says.

"You gain certain insights as you proceed in stages."

In other words, it is too soon to determine the scope of the manpower and equipment that will be working at the site in the coming months.

Steven Hinds, senior hydrocarbon-resources geologist with the Province of New Brunswick, says it is noteworthy that an independent third party provided the estimate of the size of the deposit, but he too underlines that much work remains before it can be determined how much of a gas development could occur here.

"Each shale gas play is unique, and we're at the very early stages of evaluating this resource," Hinds says.

The geologist notes, however, that tests suggest a producing well could have a flow rate of about four million cubic feet per day, which compares very well to Corridor's existing wells which boast a flow rate of, on average, one or two million cubic feet per day.

The site is known as the Frederick Brook formation and it is located on Green Road, which is about four kilometres or 2.5 miles north of Elgin.

Only 20 kilometres or 12.5 miles to the west, at Penobsquis, Corridor has exploration sites and several gas-producing wells that feed into the Maritimes & Northeastern pipeline that carries natural gas from Sable Island off the coast of Nova Scotia to markets in the United States. Those same Corridor wells also provide natural gas to the nearby PCS New Brunswick potash mine, which is undergoing a $1.7 billion expansion.

Personal note - This sounds like it could be a whole lot bigger that the Nova Scotia offshore, as long as the majority of the deposit is recoverable.

For those not in the know, Elgin is about 30 km southwest of Moncton. There is a long history of natural gas production in southeastern NB. Moncton had gas powered streetlights in the late 19th century, fed by natural gas from the Hillsborough region.

[Smevo]

http://www.capebretonpost.com/index....=315133&sc=145

Port Hawkesbury town engineers must ensure water system complies with new regulations

CHRIS SHANNON
The Cape Breton Post

PORT HAWKESBURY — Town officials will have to investigate how proposed provincial guidelines to protect municipal water systems from the harmful parasite cryptosporidium will affect construction of a $2.6-million addition to its water facility.

Port Hawkesbury’s chief administrative officer Jim Davis said it’ll be up to the town’s engineers to figure out what, if anything, needs to be done to ensure the water system is compliant under new regulations.

...

http://www.capebretonpost.com/index....=315142&sc=149

Alderwood Long Term Care Replacement Facility is over 60,000 sq. ft.’ triple the size of the Alderwood Rest Home. The new facility is expected to be ready for occupancy in the early spring. Submitted by Gerry Langille

Replacement facility for Alderwood Rest Home nearing completion

JULIE COLLINS
The Cape Breton Post

BADDECK — Excitement is mounting as the Alderwood Long Term Care Replacement Facility continues to take shape.

The long-term care facility overlooking the Bras d’Or Lake will be triple the size of Alderwood Rest Home.

...

[Smevo]

http://www.capebretonpost.com/index....=315698&sc=145

Louisbourg Seafoods inks deal to build processing plant in Canso

Breaking News
The Cape Breton Post

SYDNEY — Louisbourg Seafoods is making 2010 a little brighter for the economically ailing town of Canso after signing a deal New Year’s Eve to build a new processing plant there.

The deal has been officially in the works for more than a year, and Canso Harbour Authority vice-president Bill Bond said in a telephone interview Tuesday from Canso that he was happy to see it concluded, especially since a large fish processing plant employing up to 900 people closed about three years ago.

...

Full story from Jan 6 edition

[Smevo]

http://www.capebretonpost.com/index....=316563&sc=152

Oil and gas company plans on more drilling near Lake Ainslie this summer

BY CHRIS HAYES
The Cape Breton Post

SYDNEY — An eastern Canadian oil and gas company plans to drill two onshore oil wells near Lake Ainslie in Cape Breton this summer.

PetroWorth Resources Inc. expects to spend about $2 million drilling and developing the wells, which will be toward the eastern end of the 383,000-acre Lake Ainslie Block that stretches west of the lake on which the company has exploration and development rights.

...

[Smevo]

Edit: that's Jan 12, 2010...oops

http://www.capebretonpost.com/index....=317402&sc=152

One year later, transit system continues to grow

BY NANCY KING
The Cape Breton Post

PORT HAWKESBURY — The Strait Area Transit Co-operative is continuing to see new clients using the service as it finishes its first full year of operations.

The co-op began offering transit service in parts of the Strait area in October 2008. General manager Malcolm Beaton said in a recent interview that the service is seeing increased ridership every month. In November 2008, a total of 214 trips were made. That compares with 756 trips a year later.

...

[Smevo]

http://www.capebretonpost.com/index....=319966&sc=152

Ski Cape Smokey plans to reopen

The Cape Breton Post

INGONISH — Ski Cape Smokey, a once popular ski hill in northern Cape Breton which has been closed for a number of years, plans to reopen a number of its downhill runs providing there is enough natural snow.

Chairman Larry Dauphinee said while the Ski Cape Smokey Society tries to line up a private sector buyer for the ski hill facility, which is partly owned by the Nova Scotia government, local volunteers have been working to reopen several runs hopefully in a few weeks time.

...

[Dmajackson]

Sable Island may become national park
By DAVID JACKSON Provincial Reporter
Mon. Jan 25 - 11:01 AM

Sable Island could become a national park, attracting visitors to the isolated area, federal Environment Minister Jim Prentice announced this morning.

Mr. Prentice said Ottawa and the province will looking at two options for protecting the island — as a park or national wildlife area.

The minister said the park designation would contain specific requirements for maintaining the natural landscape. The wildlife designation focuses on protection for animals.

As a park, "Sable Island would be well protected, and it would be an area that we would encourage visitors to come to and they would be well-taken care of while they're there," he said after a news conference at Citadel Hill.

Currently, visitors to Sable Island need permission from the Canadian Coast Guard.

Mr. Prentice said Parks Canada staff would handle managing the area and protecting it, as it does in other national parks.

He said he expects private businesses would transport people to the island, located about 290 kilometres southeast of Halifax, near the edge of the Continental Shelf./p

The island is about 41 kilometres long and 1.5 kilometres wide. It's home to between 150 and 400 wild horses, the world's largest group of breeding grey seals, and numerous migrant and breeding birds, including the rare Ipswich Savannah sparrow.

There's also an Environment Canada weather station there, and scientists visit the island to do research.

Mr. Prentice said a new designation would still permit a seal cull, if necessary. He also said it wouldn't have an impact on offshore oil and gas exploration.

Mark Butler, policy director at the Ecology Action Centre, said a wildlife designation for the island has been discussed for months. He said the possibility of a national park hadn't been on the table, apparently because of cost considerations.

He said a park designation could be more effective in protecting the island because it could ensure someone is actually there keeping an eye on things. But he said he's wary of making it too accessible to the public.

"You don't want to love Sable Island to death," he said. "One of the reasons it's still there and it's relatively pristine is because people aren't trampling all over the dunes."

Provincial Natural Resources Minister John MacDonell said designating the 3,400-hectare island would help move the province toward its goal of protecting 12 per cent of the province by 2015.

Mr. Prentice said there will be a public consultation on the protection options. The memorandum of understanding he and Mr. MacDonell signed this morning says there will be a recommendation before them within three months, and the two levels of government will move on an agreement within a year.

( djackson@herald.ca )

[Smevo]

Ingonish
http://www.capebretonpost.com/index....=324375&sc=152

Former World Cup skier hopes to develop Ski Cape Smokey

BY CHRIS HAYES
The Cape Breton Post

INGONISH — Paul Mahre, a former member of the U.S. national ski team, hopes to buy Ski Cape Smokey from the Nova Scotia government to develop into a year-round resort.

Mahre has been struggling to find financial backers to invest in his ambitious plans for the northern Cape Breton ski hill, which has been closed for several years although it boasts breathtaking ocean scenery as well as the highest vertical drop and longest run in Nova Scotia.

...

[MonctonRad]

First Nation plans Miramichi casino
Published Saturday February 13th, 2010

Gaming facility in Douglastown to feature VLTs, electronic poker, bingo, sports betting
BY KRIS MCDAVID
Times & Transcript Staff

METEPENAGIAG - The rumours have been flying around the Miramichi for weeks and Metepenagiag First Nation Chief Noah Augustine confirmed them yesterday.

Augustine enthusiastically unveiled details of a multi-million dollar gaming facility the aboriginal community will be pursuing in the near future on a piece of prime riverfront real estate in Miramichi's bustling Douglastown district.

Metepenagiag, commonly known as Red Bank, has been awarded a category-one gaming licence from the Atlantic Lottery Corporation, which will result in the construction of a $4-million gaming facility featuring an entertainment centre, electronic poker tables, Pro-Line sports betting, high-stakes bingo, a restaurant and, initially, 25 video lottery terminals.

The gaming facility will be located adjacent to the Centennial Bridge and the Shoppers Drug Mart on King George Highway, a high-traffic, visible area that Augustine equates to a prime location for his development.

Augustine said the initiative is being financed entirely by the aboriginal community, and that the 2.5-acre plot of land will be converted to First Nations land so that revenues will go back into his community.

He said the announcement is a win-win situation for his community, as well as the Miramichi region at large, noting that between 30 and 50 full-time workers will be employed at the facility once it opens, tentatively slated for next fall, and that it will have serious economic spin-off benefits for the City of Miramichi in terms of tourism.

"Metepenagiag wants to do its part to participate in the local economy and, with some of the projects and investments we're making in the Miramichi, we'll be one of the driving forces in the local economy," Augustine said.

"The gains that are going to be achieved will be mutual gains (between Metepenagiag and Miramichi)."

The announced gaming facility comes just months after Augustine announced Metepenagiag would construct a $70-million plasma gasification plant on the site of the former Nelson ground wood mill on First Nations-converted land.

Partnering with Ontario firm Sunbay Energy, and Bordeaux, France-based Europlasma, Metepenagiag will hold a controlling interest in the newly formed Northumberland Energy Corporation.

The project will see 100 tonnes of solid waste brought to the facility each day and vapourized using a high-tech plasma torch, turning the garbage into emission-free energy which can be sold back to the grid for a profit, employing about 40 to 50 full-time workers.

The gaming centre will operate under Atlantic Lotto's Coasters brand, which represents a Category One video lottery licence for facilities featuring 15 to 25 terminals, along with other ALC products.

ALC spokeswoman Courtenay Pringle said the Coasters brand will provide Miramichi with a destination gaming site, on top of six other Coasters locations in New Brunswick, including two in Moncton at the Elmwood Drive Dooly's location and Dieppe Sports Rock, respectively.

She said the company expects to have an additional four up and running by the end of the summer, including the Miramichi location.

"It's an exciting time (for gaming)," Pringle said. "Our first location opened last summer and, since that time they've been very well-received and we're looking forward to opening even more."

Augustine said it's no secret that the gaming industry is a tried and true revenue generator, and said he plans to expand the facility beyond the initial 25 VLTs to 50-75 machines in the future.

He said if all goes well in the first year of the venture, Metepenagiag would pursue a second category one licence for the centre's expansion.

Augustine said the design of the gaming facility is in the planning stages, however he guarantees it will be an eye-catcher once it's completed.

"I certainly respect the fact that this is a significant location in terms of the Miramichi landscape, and whatever design we come up with is certainly going to complement that area," he said.

"We're going to be putting something in place there that's going to be very appealing to the eye and, in fact, I would say it's going to add to the character of the Miramichi while also having a First Nations flavour."

So, the NB Casino in Moncton is not even open yet and the First nations plan to start a competing casino in Miramichi!

I think this is a bad idea. We don't even know yet how successful the NB Casino will be! I don't think the market will be there for a gaming facility in the Miramichi. At least Moncton is a crossroads and has a moderate tourism industry based on it's location. Miramichi is out of the way and not a tourism magnet. I think this facility will only serve the locals; people who can't afford to lose money in a casino....

At least wait and see how well Casino NB does first!

[Smevo]

http://www.capebretonpost.com/index....=325620&sc=145

Richmond County council issues support for biosphere reserve

NANCY KING
The Cape Breton Post

ARICHAT — Richmond County council has gone on record as supporting an initiative to designate the Bras d’Or Lake and the surrounding watershed a biosphere reserve.

At their regular monthly meeting Monday, councillors voted unanimously in support of the proposal, earning a round of applause from members of the association behind it who were in attendance.

“It’s been in our lap for two years,” Warden John Boudreau said. “There were a lot of questions, councillors wanted to have the opportunity to have some major questions answered.”

...

[mmmatt]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

So, the NB Casino in Moncton is not even open yet and the First nations plan to start a competing casino in Miramichi!

I think this is a bad idea. We don't even know yet how successful the NB Casino will be! I don't think the market will be there for a gaming facility in the Miramichi. At least Moncton is a crossroads and has a moderate tourism industry based on it's location. Miramichi is out of the way and not a tourism magnet. I think this facility will only serve the locals; people who can't afford to lose money in a casino....

At least wait and see how well Casino NB does first!

I wouldn't worry about this affecting Casino NB at all...the fact that they even call this a "casino" is a joke. Its just a glorified VLT room. Check out the "Coasters" next to the sports rock in Dieppe if you want an idea of what this will be, it has everything listed for this center, except "high stakes bingo" which kinda concerns me. The populous there may become frightened with the sight of 85 year old women wearing leathers and riding on Harleys through downtown toward the new joint with HIGH STAKES BINGO.

[mylesmalley]

New cranberry farm planned
Published Thursday February 18th, 2010

BASS RIVER - A British Columbian cranberry grower hopes to start construction of a major cranberry operation near this community south of Bathurst as soon as this spring.

Bhullar Brothers Farm's proposed berry operation is now going through an environmental impact assessment and if all goes well, they plan to invest about $20 million into the operation.

The EIA is now under review by the provincial Department of Environment, says Kim Edmondson, project manager with the department's environment assessment section. That process typically takes between 90 and 100 days, but could take longer depending on the scope of the project and other factors that could come into play. The project was registered on Jan. 20.

Bhullar Brothers could not immediately be reached. However, it is known that their project, if approved, would encompass 40 cranberry beds over 58 hectares with room for expansion at a site that is located south of Bathurst on Route 134 near Bass River, on private property on which they hold an option to purchase, subject to approval of their project.

The company has preliminary plans to grow the operation even bigger in the future.

The cranberry farm would have one full-time employee and about four seasonal workers.

It is not yet known where Bhullar intends to market their product, however they have in the past worked closely with cranberry kings Ocean Spray, a co-operative of 650 cranberry growers that buys about 60 per cent of the entire Canadian crop every year and which is now building North America's largest cranberry farm near Rogersville. The first phase of that project will encompass about 125 hectares.

Ocean Spray's $90-million investment could eventually lead to upwards of 1,900 acres of beds being planted in the Rogersville area over the next several years, creating about 100 jobs. That project has been seen as a catalyst to growing New Brunswick's already successful, but relatively young, cranberry industry.


__________
Appears we're developing quite the cranberry industry here. It might mean only a few jobs, but it'll be a fairly significant boost to the regional tax base in both Bass River and Rogersville.

[Dmajackson]

$30 million hotel, water park planned for Millbrook
By MARY ELLEN MacINTYRE Truro Bureau
Fri. Feb 19 - 4:53 AM

MILLBROOK — A just-announced $30-million project at the Truro Power Centre in Millbrook First Nation is the reason why Chief Lawrence Paul couldn’t retire.

When he was re-elected chief two years ago, Paul announced he wasn’t going to seek another term but "I had to stay around and see this project come to be," said the longtime chief, who is in the middle of an election campaign.

"We’re underway with preparing the site and in 18 months we’ll have a world-class facility up there," he said.

A 100-room hotel and 30,000-square-foot indoor water park will make the Mi’kmaq-owned centre a major destination attraction, the chief said.

Paul said he has been just been champing at the bit to get this project underway. The band is partnering with Pacrim Hospitality Services Inc. on the project.

"We had to bore under the highway to get water and sewer up there. It’s a lot of work but it’s going to be worth it," Paul said. "Nobody will have to wait for summer to go to the water park because it can be a raging snowstorm outside but inside it will be warm."

Glen Squires, Pacrim Hospitality CEO, was not available for comment Thursday. However, in a news release issued at midday, the CEO praised the project’s potential.

"Throughout the U.S. and in locations in Canada indoor water parks are family favourites and we have partnered with the expertise of U.S.-based Splash! Universe to plan the project," he said in the release.

A 150-seat restaurant-retail facility will be part of the project, using an existing building at the site.

"We are confident that this project, featuring Atlantic Canada cuisine combined with retail opportunities heavily featuring local products and artifacts, will appeal to the tastes of both residents and visitors to the area," Squires said in the release.

The restaurant project is expected to be underway in March with an anticipated opening in June.

Job creation during construction and once the projects are completed will total in the hundreds, said Paul.

Ground breaking for the project is expected to begin late this year, with an opening date of 2012.

( mmacintyre@herald.ca )

[MonctonRad]

New hospital, new arena complex, new hotel/waterpark............Truro seems to be hopping.

[-Harlington-]

its true this is all great for truro, to start becoming a bigger destination in nova scotia.
all this is cool and this would top it all off:

Adventure park proposal stirs up controversy

By MARY ELLEN MacINTYRE Truro Bureau
Thu. Feb 18 - 4:54 AM

TRURO — Factions are building in the drive to put an aerial adventure park in the midst of prime real estate in this town.

Whether for or against, the prospect of developing four out of Victoria Park’s 400 hectares has become a hot button topic.

A proponent wants to place what is described as a non-intrusive, environmentally friendly enterprise in Victoria Park with adventure-filled devices such as zip lines, cargo nets and trapezes.

Truro Mayor Bill Mills said Wednesday an information meeting held Tuesday night to discuss the prospect of locating the TreeGo attraction in the park made for passionate debate.

"Well, people recognize Victoria Park as a very special place and there were a lot of people there who said don’t touch it," said Mills.

"However, there was one young fellow there who had friends visiting from college last year and he was embarrassed to say they didn’t spend much time here — they went to Moncton to their TreeGo park.

"That just shouldn’t happen."

A spokesman for the Truro and District Chamber of Commerce said Wednesday most towns would be delirious with happiness at the prospect of attracting such a venture.

"It has the potential to draw between 15,000 and 18,000 people (annually) and between 80 and 90 per cent of them would come from outside this community," said CEO Tim Tucker.

"Instead of people from Truro going to Halifax for entertainment and shopping, wouldn’t it be wonderful to have people come here?’

Tucker said if the proponent wanted to put a plastics factory in the area or a coal-fired generator, he could see how people would be opposed to the idea.

"I’d be the first one to speak out against the project, but this one will only enhance the area and bring people in to the area," he said.

With outdoor pools, a bandstand, playground, tennis court, a ball field and acres of walking trails in picturesque woodland with astounding waterfalls, Victoria Park is nothing short of a jewel in the middle of town.

The issue has become so contentious, it’s led to the formation of Facebook groups both for and against the project.

"This park is quite a gem and there’s no one who goes into that park who thinks otherwise," said Mills.

"People are so passionate about this issue because the park is so well-loved and everyone wants to make sure it’s protected."

Mills acknowledges he’s torn, saying there are compelling arguments on both sides.

Nonetheless, he’s well aware many communities would wonder why Truro would even hesitate.

"Are you kidding? There are places that would snatch this opportunity up without blinking," he said.

"It wouldn’t cost us a penny and it would serve to bring people to this area who might stay a night or two, eat a meal or two and go shopping," he said.

Meanwhile, the New Brunswick man who wants to build the aerial adventure park in Truro said Wednesday he is not discouraged by the opposition to his plan.

"It was the same in Moncton 2½ years ago because people love their parks and they don’t want them ruined," said Martin Laviolette.

"But when they saw how we didn’t make a big, ugly mess and they saw how much fun it is and it brings in so much business, well, now they don’t want us to ever leave."

Council will meet March 1 to decide if Truro will agree to the lease.

[Dmajackson]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

New hospital, new arena complex, new hotel/waterpark............Truro seems to be hopping.

Its in a conservative riding which means federal $$$

[mylesmalley]

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/new-brunswi...ssex-1139.html


Cheese N.B. plans $10M facility
Plant will create new demand for milk production
Last Updated: Friday, February 19, 2010 | 12:29 PM AT


Private investors are planning a $10-million cheese plant near Sussex, N.B., that will create 40 jobs and consume millions of litres of milk.

Mario Ruffalo is one of the investors behind the Cheese New Brunswick project that will be producing a product similar to the popular Reggiano-Parmiagiano type of cheese.

Ruffalo said for copyright reasons they can't call their future product by that well-known name.

"It'll have a East Coast name. We're working on that, but one of the key phrases on it will be 'superior to,' " Ruffalo said Friday.

"So that name will be used somehow. It will be superior to Reggiano-Parmiagiano."

Reggiano-Parmiagiano is a hard granular cheese that is similar to high-quality parmesan from Italy.

The cheese is named after the Italian cities where it is produced: Parma, Reggio Emilia, Modena and Bologna

Italian law states that only cheese produced in these provinces can be given the well-known name.

Superior product

The company's website said their product will be superior to the traditional cheese because it will be made in stainless steel equipment compared to copper pots in Italy.

The cheese will also benefit from locating in New Brunswick, according to the company.

Ruffalo said he looked all over Canada for the right place to establish the cheese factory and New Brunswick was a perfect fit.

"Not only is it a fantastic province to do business in, but they have the raw material we're looking for, which is superior to the rest of Canada," Ruffalo said.

"Now I want to say that Canadian milk right across is No. 1, because of our standard. But the fat content we can get from the province of New Brunswick is just slightly higher, which makes it superior."

Ruffalo said he's already acquired the milk quota needed to supply the plant.

Work on the new cheese plant should start in about six months.

In a couple of years, Ruffalo said it is expected another $10 million will be spent to expand the facility.

Good news for farmers

Reg Perry, chairman of the New Brunswick Dairy Farmers, who also owns a dairy farm in the Sussex area, said under marketing agreements, the milk will come from the Maritime provinces as well as Ontario and Quebec.

But, he said, New Brunswick farms will see increased business when the cheese facility is operating.

"We only produce enough product to meet the market," Perry said.

"So if there's an increase in market demand, then we can produce more milk."

[MonctonRad]

Potash/natural gas/cheese...........Sussex seems to be hopping!!!

Wait a second, isn't this a double post............nope, I was talking about Truro before!

This is just further evidence that the entire southern Maritime corridor (Saint John/Sussex/Moncton/Sackville/Amherst/Truro/Halifax) is doing pretty well. About half the population of the Maritimes lives in this corridor and this is where future growth in the region will be concentrated.