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Penticton: Haven for retirees has a hidden manufacturing side

The city stands apart as one of the most-cost effective manufacturing areas in the Pacific Northwest
penticton

 

Sometimes overlooked as Kelowna’s sleepy neighbour to the south, Penticton is nonetheless riding strong economic headwinds, thanks to its diversified economy and its draw among retirees. Penticton’s real estate market in particular has benefitted from a steady stream of new full-time seasonal residents drawn by the favourable weather and supply of new product, such as Skaha Hills, which is built on First Nation-leased land. In 2016, there were a total of 337 housings starts, up from 186 the year before. On the commercial and industrial side, Penticton is a regional services centre with a vibrant manufacturing base. Major manufacturers in the city include Pattison Sign Group, and Structurlam Products Ltd., an exporter of cross-laminated timber and the largest manufacturer in the south Okanagan. Altogether, Penticton has 280 acres of industrial-zoned land, and according to KMPG, is the most cost-effective jurisdiction for manufacturing in the Pacific Northwest.