Tech large Garmin Canada has introduced plans to develop additional in Alberta, together with hiring lots of of extra workers.
The corporate, recognized worldwide for its cutting-edge health and outside know-how, has unveiled the addition of a 3rd flooring to its present constructing in Cochrane, which can be its Canadian headquarters.
The enlargement will almost double Garmin’s employment within the city and permit it to create 200 new native science, know-how, engineering and math (STEM) jobs.
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“We moved right here lower than 5 years in the past, using a little bit over 100 individuals. As we speak we’re poised to cross the 200 mark and are working out of steam,” stated Jim Rooney, Managing Director of Garmin Canada.
“We’re simply on the level the place we have crammed the constructing and we want a spot to continue to grow.”
Garmin Canada workers are exhausting at work.
Tomasiya DaSilva
The corporate formally made Cochrane its dwelling in 2018.
In contrast to many different tech giants, it at present has no plans to downsize or lay off employees. Rooney places it all the way down to good driving.
“When the financial system was loopy, we did not go and overspend and we did not tackle greater than we may deal with,” he identified.
He additionally calls the enlargement a sensible transfer, including the corporate is effectively positioned to take action.
“The wonderful thing about Garmin is that we’re a conservative firm that simply sort of always builds together with the demand for our merchandise.”
Rooney stated that whereas the corporate has seen demand progress of about 20 p.c prior to now few years, he expects that to reasonable over the following yr or so.
“We’re most likely not going to develop as a lot as we did in the previous few years,” he identified. “However Garmin continues to be keen to make that funding.”
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That is an funding that the City of Cochrane and the Authorities of Alberta are happy to have. The Garmin facility is the guts of the city and has not solely supplied jobs, it has additionally helped enhance the city’s taxable evaluation progress.
“Garmin Canada is a real Alberta success story,” stated Cochrane Mayor Jeff Genung. “The corporate attracts world-class expertise and Cochrane attracts world-class individuals. We’re happy to work collectively to proceed to construct this group as a know-how hub.”
Alberta’s Minister of Municipal Affairs Rebecca Schulz instructed World Information that know-how house continues to be an area the federal government desires to be in.
“I might say that is nonetheless very a lot one of many areas that we’re specializing in by way of financial progress.”
Schulz added that luring corporations right here would not essentially equate to throwing cash at them.
“It is actually about displaying up. To be on the desk,” she stated. “Having these discussions with these corporations to say, ‘Look, what we’ve got in Alberta is a novel worth proposition. Now we have inexpensive housing. Now we have the gorgeous mountains. Now we have the good high quality of life. Now we have low taxes.’”
Development of the third flooring of the prevailing Garmin constructing will start in early spring of this yr. It’s anticipated to open within the spring of 2024.
© 2023 World Information, a division of Corus Leisure Inc.
