Expand your Canadian Business to the U.S.

Zoom Zoom is a ride-sharing company founded in Niagara Falls, Ontario. The company founder began offering rides during his time at university. As the business grew, Walid began building a back-end platform and app for ride-sharing customers. Walid realized the opportunity to expand his business to a similar market in the U.S., offering a more local option for ride-sharing customers.

Incentives: Startup NY

Canadian-headquartered Pride Pak processes fresh vegetables, making ready-made salads in a bag and chopped vegetables. The company also sources raw vegetables from both the US and Canada. Pride Pak was started in 1984 and has their main office in Mississauga with another facility in New Foundland. They currently employ over 200 people and sell to grocery retailers and into the restaurant industry.

With growing sales in the US, Steven Karr, CEO sought a new facility across the border to grow his business. In 2014, Pride Pak reached out to multiple regions within New York State to locate their new facility.

Electrovaya is a Canadian manufacturer of Lithium-ion batteries. The company is focused on the clean energy transfer and prevention of climate change through the supply of the safest and longest lasting batteries in the market. Electrovaya explored a U.S. expansion to ramp up production of batteries within the warehouse distribution and transportation vertical. With its Canadian headquarters based in Mississauga, Ontario, Buffalo Niagara, and its close proximity, was a natural fit for U.S. expansion.

Incentives: Empire State Development Excelsior Jobs Tax Credits, New York Power Authority Hydropower Allocation, Property Tax Abatement, Mortgage Tax Abatement, Sales Tax Abatement

PatCom Medical is an early-stage Canadian medical device company focused on improving patient comfort during evaluation and treatment of communication and swallowing disorders. PatCom’s small diameter endoscopes, advanced light and camera technology, and patented Esophageal Introducer allow for easy intubation and more accurate testing, including Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES), Videostroboscopy, and Reflux testing.

With 80% of the company’s sales in the U.S., having a physical presence in the States became a top priority. The company was looking for a region with a strong life and health sciences ecosystem, specifically within minimally invasive surgery innovation, as well as potential for academic partnerships.

Sucro Sourcing is a multinational company refining sugar for mills, processors, distributors and industrial customers. Before considering a permanent expansion in Buffalo Niagara, the company first set up a pilot project in the Gateway Trade Zone. At the completion of that pilot project, the company was satisfied and willing to further consider a permanent presence in Western New York. The company was also considering Miami, Florida for the project.

Incentives: Empire State Development Excelsior Tax Credit ECIDA tax abatement NYPA hydropower National Grid grant

Worksport is a publicly traded Canadian company that manufactures tonneau covers for trucks. The company was manufacturing their products overseas but was looking for a site in North America to onshore production. Worksport had a list of requirements they were searching for throughout the process including a suitable building preferably near their Canadian headquarters, access to cross border expertise, and government incentives to make the project possible.