The research park in Sarnia has achieved financial independence from Lambton County.
Founded in 2003, the Western Sarnia-Lambton Research Park went through some lean years but is now at 97% of capacity.
The Modeland Road site has four pilot plants in operation and is home to research underway in petrochemicals, drugs, energy and the bio-industrial sector.
The park has also been an incubator for “graduates” who went on to establish successful companies in the region.
Reaching financial independence means the park’s owners, the Community Development Corporation, can now go to external lenders to negotiate its own financing, said corporation chair Mike Bradley.
Among the park’s high profile tenants are Nova Chemicals, Enbridge, and WorleyParsons.