Economic Development

Economic Development supports the strategic goals of the Town and the implementation of the Town’s Economic and Business Development priorities. Responsibilities include investment attraction, business retention and expansion, local and external business engagement, land marketing, sales and acquisition.

Donna Hatt, Economic Development Officer
T: 902-530-4099
M: 902-930-2106
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The Economic Development Officer is responsible for developing and implementing an Economic Growth Strategy based on strategic priorities set by Council. This includes marketing activities to retain, expand and attract business growth, identification of potential opportunities, reporting on progress against the Town’s stated goals and objectives for growth and collaborating with other Departments, senior levels of government and the private sector. The position leads the land sales and acquisition process for the Town in terms of business and residential development in Bridgewater.

INVESTING IN BRIDGEWATER
Bridgewater has long been known as the Main Street of the South Shore, and our community embraces its reputation as an excellent place to do busness.

Town Council and Town staff are dedicated to embracing and nurturing business investment in Bridgewater, whether you're operating a small "mom and pop" shop or an international corporation. Bridgewater's drive to support the local business community and encourage it to thrive is reflected in fair, modern, and open policies respecting the establishment and operation of businesses within the Town.Bridgewater is one of the three fastest-growing communities in Nova Scotia.

Our location in the heart of the LaHave River Valley in Lunenburg County is less than an hour's travel time from Halifax and about 70 minutes from Stanfield International Airport, positioning us perfectly to serve you, your clients, and your suppliers. Bridgewater also boasts a navigable and well-sheltered position at the tidal head of the LaHave River for those looking to access our area and service via water.

Perhaps most importantly, the Town of Bridgewater is here to help you navigate the path to establishing or growing your business. We proudly work with local business organizations, such as the Bridgewater and Area Chamber of Commerce, and we also directly invest in our community too.

WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT BRIDGEWATER'S BUSINESS COMMUNITY?
Explore our comprehensive Bridgewater Business Directory by visiting explorebridgewater.ca.

GETTING STARTED
Are you interested in learning more about a particular parcel of land? Would you like to know about what Bridgewater has planned for a specific area of our community or what kind of provincial and federal supports exist for small business? Do you have questions about the Facade Improvement Program or how you can leverage the Town's strong social media presence to boost your business initiative to a wider audience? You can get information on all these subjects and more by contacting Economic Development Officer Donna Hatt at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by phone at 902-930-2106.

TOWN PROGRAMS
The Town of Bridgewater has a number of effective programs that may be of interest to existing businesses or new investors eyeing Bridgewater's potential.

Facade Improvement Program
The Facade Improvement Program was created in 2016 to spur investment in our downtown core along Historic King Street. The program has been a resounding success with roughly $100,000 in matching grant dollars given to businesses and property owners who have made investments in the facades of their buildings over the last five-plus years. Grant value is a maximum of $5,000 in matching funds for eligible and approved projects. To learn more about the program, including access to an application form and a facade improvement guide, you can visit www.bridgewater.ca/facade.

Community Prospectus
Did you know that more than 62,000 people live within a 50km radius of Bridgewater? Did you know that, on any given day, there are more than 25,000 vehicles on the road in Bridgewater and that our functional daytime population triples? If you're looking for interesting data to help convince you that Bridgewater is the community in Nova Scotia to build or grow your business, you can download our Community Prospectus by clicking here.

Exit 12A and Bridgewater Business Park
Thanks to recent investments by the Town of Bridgewater, the Province of Nova Scotia, and the Federal Government, the first Highway 103 interchange to directly access Bridgewater will be constructed in 2021 and 2022. That interchange will directly access the Bridgewater Business Park and will open up approximately 125 acres of land on the north side of Highway 103 to investment and development. Now's the time to make contact with the Town of Bridgewater if you have an eye toward investing in land in and around the Exit 12A interchange.

For more information, contact Economic Development Officer Donna Hatt at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by phone at 902-930-2106.

OTHER RESOURCES
Community Development Department
If you need information on our community's Land-Use By-law, Municipal Planning Strategy, or you have basic questions about permitted uses, you can connect with Bridgewater's Community Development Department's Development Officer, Nick Brown, at 902-541-4369 or by e-mail at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Building Inspection Services
For information on Building Inspection Services offered by the Town of Bridgewater, please contact our Engineering Department at 902-541-4370 or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Bridgewater & Area Chamber of Commerce (BACC)
The BACC has been a longstanding voice for the business community in the greater Bridgewater area. The Chamber's mission is to support local business and economic growth in Bridgewater and area in order to serve our community and build prosperity. To achieve that, the Chamber is committed to engaging its members in ways that will inspire a progressive business climate and contribute to the steady economic growth of the South Shore. For more information, including how to become a member, visit www.bridgewaterchamber.com.