Our 'industries of focus' play to the county's strengths or have emerged locally as industries of opportunity.
These include manufacturing, healthcare, construction, agri-food, and tourism.
Manufacturing
The manufacturing scene in Lanark County is diverse and local businesses are making their mark on various markets and industries. The sector consists of 62 businesses that employ over 2,590 people in the region. Based on the latest census, the county has 8,910 people or 28.83% of workers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) industries. This wellhead of knowledge has contributed to the rapid adoption of Industry 4.0 and ongoing innovation within the manufacturing sector in Lanark County.
Healthcare
The healthcare industry in the county is an essential economic driver. Healthcare and related fields are popular fields of expertise among county residents; 17.32% are involved in the industry. Lanark County's robust healthcare infrastructure and workforce are a significant factor in our high quality of life. Although the county has not been immune to the provincial shortage of personal support workers, local economic stakeholders have been proactive and innovative in leading local initiatives to train individuals and fill vacant positions.
Construction
Driven by population growth, there is an increasing demand for single-family homes, multi-unit buildings, and infrastructure. This has created ample opportunity for construction, residential or commercial trade services and craftspeople. Currently, in the county, the construction industry employs 3,835 people.
Agri-Food
Lanark County is home to a vibrant and flourishing food and beverage sector producing numerous products, including craft beers and alcohol, kombucha, frozen baked goods, plant-based goods, confections, maple syrup products and more. As a result, the Agri-food sector has a more significant presence in Lanark than most other parts of the province. The Agri-food sector employed 3,725 people within Lanark in 2016, 17% of total employment.
Tourism
Lanark County experiences attract more than 1.4 million people a year. Tourism activity in the county is generally linked to maple experiences, outdoor activities, downtown and heritage exploration.
Maple Experiences
As the Maple Syrup Capital of Ontario, visitors worldwide come for an authentic Canadian experience. The county’s expanse of sugar maple forests is home to over 200 craft maple syrup producers, 15 sugar camps offering experiences to visitors and three pancake houses. In addition, the county’s distinctive landscape creates a Terroir that provides a delectable, unique Lanark County flavour to our maple syrup.
Outdoor Activities
From the Rideau Canal World Heritage Site to Canada’s Mississippi, Lanark County is home to over 100 lakes, rivers, waterfalls, and beaches that speckle the landscape. In addition, the county boasts a robust four-season trail system, two provincial parks, 13 golf courses and a 10 Alpine run Ski Hill.
Downtown Exploration
The downtown core is one of the most iconic rural experiences you can have. When it comes to shopping and dining in Lanark County, we aim to please. Our four towns each offer visitors' beautified streets, pedestrian amenities, patios, and district vibes. Our downtown cores have attracted many seasonal and Hallmark movie productions in recent years, providing unique opportunities for local businesses.
Heritage Exploration
After building the world-renowned Rideau Canal UNESCO world heritage site, Scottish stonemasons stayed to create some of Canada's oldest and prettiest towns. Evidence of their craft is seen in over 146 designated heritage properties and 13 museums throughout the county.