The City of Port Colborne is a small, urban municipality located within the Regional Municipality of Niagara. As part of a region with 484,840 people, Port Colborne has the charm of a small community but the strategic advantages of a large city.

View the demographics and vital statistics on Port Colborne

The City of Port Colborne has a highly developed pool of over 9,000 skilled workers in all industry sectors, many of whom have specialized knowledge and skills in manufacturing processes. Within 45 minutes driving time of Port Colborne is a labour force of over 200,000 people from across the Niagara region.

View the labour force statistics on Port Colborne and Niagara

The City of Port Colborne offers incentives to investors and building owners through the form of Community Improvement Plans (CIPs). The City currently offers CIPs for commercial, industrial, and residential revitalization. Contact the City of Port Colborne's Economic Development Officer for more information.

The City of Port Colborne collects property taxes on behalf of the City, the Regional Municipality of Niagara, and it also collects the Provincial Education Tax. Taxes are determined by multiplying the specified rate by the assessed value of the property. Assessed property values in Ontario are set by the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation.

View the current Port Colborne property tax rates

The City of Port Colborne is strategically located on Niagara's South Coast and the north shores of Lake Erie. The City is linked to a sophisticated highway network, with three provincial highways (King's Highways 3, 58, and 140) providing direct access. Located only 20 minutes from the US border, and one hour from the Greater Toronto Area, Port Colborne is within a day's drive of half of North America's purchasing power.

The City-owned Port Colborne Harbour Railway serves many industrial sites on the western side of Port Colborne. This short-line railway is operated by the locally-owned Trillium Railway and connects industries in Port Colborne to the CN and CP mainlines adjacent to the community. The City is committed to exploring options to increase service on this line to further reduce freight costs for the many industries that rely on this strategic infrastructure.

Multi-modal transportation in Port Colborne also includes water and air. The presence of the Welland Canal adds unique value and a competitive advantage by serving as a vital link in the St. Lawrence Seaway system, connecting the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean. The City's strong working relationship with the operator of the canal, The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation, continually supports the businesses that rely on the Welland Canal to connect to markets around the world.

Three international airports and four regional airports are within 130 kilometres (80 miles) of Port Colborne. Toronto Pearson International Airport, John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport, and Buffalo Niagara International Airport are all major hubs for regional and international air traffic. All three airports also offer air freight and logistics services. Serving the regional market, the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, Niagara Falls International Airport, Niagara District Airport, and the Welland/Niagara Central Airport offer varying levels service from scheduled flights to charter services and some freight operations.

Port Colborne is served by three organizations that provide small business services and financing to entrepreneurs. The City can also provide assistance with establishing a small business. To view a list of businesses in Port Colborne, please visit our business directory. 

Located close to Port Colborne are several renowned post-secondary institutions. Brock University and Niagara College are both within 20 minutes, while McMaster University and Mohawk College are found in nearby Hamilton. 

Port Colborne is home to eight primary schools and two secondary schools, with education available in both English and French. Serving the community are the District School Board of Niagara, Niagara Catholic District School Board, and Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir.

Nearby Sherkston Shores, a family entertainment resort, boasts one of the longest beaches in the area with over three kilometres of white, sandy beachfront to enjoy.

Port Colborne has a very active arts community with its own theatre, museum, and art galleries. Port Colborne is also less than a hour's drive to the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and Niagara's famous Shaw Festival Theatre. For the sports buff, the NHL's Buffalo Sabres, CFL's Hamilton Tiger Cats, and NFL's Buffalo Bills are all within a 35-minute drive.

Port Colborne is home to all the amenities to make your lifestyle comfortable, such as a highly respected hospital, quality retirement facilities, efficient community services, outstanding schools, churches, convenient shopping facilities, and affordable homes.

Cities like Buffalo, Niagara Falls, St. Catharines, Hamilton, and Toronto are minutes away through an infrastructure system that includes direct access to major highways such as the #140 and #406. Bus transportation is also available to other municipalities within the Niagara region as well as to Hamilton, Toronto, and Buffalo.