The Town of Petawawa is the largest community in Renfrew County. Renowned for its water and land resources, Petawawa offers residents and visitors a family-oriented and sports enthusiasts’ playland set along the Petawawa and Ottawa Rivers. Home to Garrison Petawawa, the community offers quality housing, an abundance of products, services, skilled labour, and disposable income.
We are happy to support businesses and developers who choose to call Petawawa home. Let’s connect!
Department Contacts
General Assistance
Economic Development Manager
Christine Mitchell
- Manager of Economic Development
- cmitchell@petawawa.ca
- 613-687-5536
Economic Development Coordinator
Rudy Kadlec
- Economic Development Coordinator
- rkadleck@petawawa.ca
- 613-687-5536
Projects, Studies and Strategies
Below you will find a collection of key business projects, studies, and strategic documents that guide and inform the Town of Petawawa’s economic actions. These resources reflect ongoing research, community input, and targeted initiatives that help shape our approach to growth, investment, and local business support.
Economic Action Strategy 2026 - 2029
The updated Economic Action Strategy 2026–2029 builds on the department’s achievements and ongoing efforts to date. Developed through extensive business and community engagement; including interviews, surveys, focus sessions, and input from the 2021 Community Improvement Plan (CIP), the 2024 First Impression Community Exchange program, the 2024 rebranding exercise, the 2025 wayfinding consultations and design work, and the 2025 BR&E program, the strategy reflects a broad and current understanding of local needs and opportunities.
The strategy is organized around four overarching goals and priorities, supported by a 4/23/43 framework of strategic pillars, objectives, and actions. The four strategic pillars are:
- Support & Retain: Strengthen and expand existing businesses.
- Attract: Facilitate new investment and job creation.
- Grow: Support workforce development and housing solutions.
- Connect: Advance branding, marketing, and communication tools.
These strategies do not suggest that work in these areas has been lacking; rather, they pinpoint where additional targeted actions will further advance progress on elements currently prioritized within the business community.
An easy-reference implementation chart outlines task team composition and anticipated timelines. Some initiatives will remain ongoing, while others will launch in stages or be completed over defined phases. Staff have streamlined the strategy to ensure it remains current, aligned with recent engagement findings, and manageable for annual reporting on key performance indicators.
2026-2030 Economic Action Strategy
Business Retention and Expansion Program
The Business Retention and Expansion (BR+E) Program, undertaken in 2025, was a key economic development initiative supported in part by funding from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness.
This project engaged directly with local business owners and operators to gain a deeper understanding of their needs, challenges, and future plans. Through in-depth interviews, surveys, and meaningful conversations, the initiative gathered valuable insights from across Petawawa’s diverse business community.
Executive Summary: Petawawa Business Retention & Expansion (BR+E) Project – 2025
The Town of Petawawa conducted a comprehensive Business Retention & Expansion (BR+E) project between December 2024 and June 2025, surveying 51 local businesses across 13 industries. This initiative sought to assess the current business climate, identify challenges and opportunities, and inform future economic development strategies.
Key Findings:
- Strong Business Satisfaction:
88% of businesses surveyed rated Petawawa as a good or excellent place to do business, citing strong quality of life, municipal support, a collaborative business community, and a stable workforce. - Top Challenges Identified:
Respondents noted a lack of commercial space, transportation options, affordable housing, and high property/land costs. Concerns were also raised about municipal regulations, lease costs, and workforce availability. - Workforce Realities:
Most businesses rely on part-time staff, with many facing hiring and retention challenges. Barriers include a lack of applicants, limited relevant experience, and recruitment difficulties in specialized roles (e.g., trades, health professionals). Only 48% of businesses offer formal HR policies, though most report embracing workplace diversity. - Business Growth & Future Plans:
35% of businesses plan to expand within 18 months, many seeking larger or second locations and new markets. Over half of businesses are not pursuing available government grants. Businesses expressed strong interest in joint marketing, networking, and workforce development. - Downtown & Retail Development Priorities:
Businesses requested improved traffic flow (especially near Garrison Petawawa), enhanced streetscaping, more retail diversity, and the development of a walkable commercial core. Wayfinding signage, beautification, and public transportation ranked as top priorities. - Program Engagement & Support:
Awareness of municipal programs like the Community Improvement Plan (CIP) is moderate (55%), though usage is lower (26%). Businesses seek greater access to local funding, marketing support, and targeted training (e.g., DEI, digital marketing, health and safety).
Actionable Outcomes & Next Steps:
- Development of a new Economic Action Strategy based on BR+E findings.
- Planned CIP review and update to reflect current needs and opportunities.
- Ongoing investment in community projects, business events, and branding initiatives (e.g., Container Market, Petawawa Ramble, Wayfinding Signage).
- Continued support for business development through grants, networking, and training.
Conclusion:
The BR+E project has reaffirmed that Petawawa is a supportive, high-quality location for business, while also highlighting critical areas for growth. By addressing gaps in infrastructure, commercial space, workforce training, and community amenities, the Town is poised to foster long-term, inclusive economic development. This report serves as a foundational tool guiding future planning and investment to ensure a thriving and resilient business environment in Petawawa.
Business Retention & Expansion (BR+E) Project
Petawawa Wayfinding
The attached Municipal Wayfinding Signage Strategy, including Community Art Concept, serves as a roadmap for staff to ensure that wayfinding and signage elements remain consistent, cohesive, and reflective of the Town’s character. The design suite offers a clean, modern aesthetic with strong visual contrasts that enhance readability and support ease of navigation throughout the community.
The inclusion of a cohesive Community Art Concept, aligned with the municipal brand, also responds directly to feedback from public consultations, where residents expressed interest in a community art program.
The Municipal Wayfinding Signage Strategy was endorsed by Council on August 11, 2025 when they approved the suite of Wayfinding designs provided through an engagement with Syntax Synergies.
Business Retention & Expansion (BR+E) Project
Logo Redesign and Rebranding
In 2025, the Town of Petawawa undertook a comprehensive review of its visual identity. This initiative included an evaluation of the existing marketing logo and corporate crest, along with a community engagement process to ensure that Petawawa’s visual design elements authentically reflect its unique character—its deep connection to nature, rich history, strong military presence, and vibrant community spirit.
Key outcomes of this initiative included:
The creation of a new municipal logo, delivered in multiple user-friendly formats for broad application across digital and print platforms.
The development of comprehensive brand guidelines
A review and alignment of sub-brand identities
The establishment of formal usage guidelines for the corporate crest
Logo Redesign & Rebranding Work
First Impressions Community Exchange Program
Town of Petawawa’s First Impressions Community Exchange with North Grenville Yields Positive Results
The Town of Petawawa recently participated in the First Impressions Community Exchange (FICE) program, an initiative of the Ontario Ministry of Rural Affairs designed to help communities see themselves through the eyes of first-time visitors.
Through this program, Petawawa was paired with the Municipality of North Grenville. Between June 14 and July 16, 2024, representatives from each municipality visited the other, evaluating key areas such as services, downtown vibrancy, housing, accommodations, and tourism. These visits culminated in detailed reports offering both praise and constructive suggestions for improvement.
On September 23, 2024, Economic Development staff Christine Mitchell and Rudy Kadlec presented North Grenville’s FICE findings to Petawawa Council. The report reflected largely positive impressions of the community, including:
Scenic beauty along entrance routes, especially from Highway 417, with winding roads and mature trees
Well-maintained multi-use pathways, noted as both functional and inviting
A strong presence of major commercial brands along Petawawa Boulevard
Recognition of the community’s strengths, despite the noted absence of a traditional downtown core
The visiting team also identified opportunities for improvement, including:
Enhanced shop-local promotion, such as QR codes in storefronts and greater digital presence for tourism assets
Improved signage and wayfinding, particularly at town entrances and major attractions
Continued beautification efforts along main commercial corridors
Economic diversification, through business expansion across a range of sectors
In addition to downtown and commercial feedback, Petawawa’s residential areas, parks, and neighbourhoods were rated as excellent or good.
Mayor Gary Serviss welcomed the report, stating,
“It’s great to see that most of their impressions were positive because that’s how we feel about Petawawa.”
The Economic Development Department is your one-stop service concierge—your advocate and primary point of contact, connecting you with municipal departments and agency partners. Our goal is simple: to support your business and help it succeed.
Below are a few of the ways our team is here to support you.
Department Services
Municipal Business Registration
All businesses operating in the Town of Petawawa are to register with the Town to ensure they are in compliance with appropriate zoning and various code provisions. We will work with you to complete the business registration process. There is no licence fee. Reach out to us to get that process started.
Special Event Checklist & Support
Planning to host a special event in Petawawa as part of your business launch or promotion? Whether it’s a grand opening, seasonal market, pop-up, or fundraiser, special events are a great way to engage the community and build visibility. But before the balloons go up or the DJ plugs in, it’s important to check off all the right boxes. From permits to parking, the Town and local agencies have guidelines that need to be respected to ensure events are safe and successful.
Our Special Event Checklist walks you through everything you’ll need—site plans, insurance requirements, noise bylaws, food handling rules, and more. It also outlines the steps for submitting your application and who to contact. Starting early helps avoid last-minute stress and gives you time to promote your event. Ready to get started? Download the checklist and bring your big idea to life.
We are here to help, so don’t hesitate to start with us!
AGCO Licence Support
Need a Liquor Licence for Your Business?
We’re here to help! Our team can guide you through the application process, ensuring you have all the documents you need—saving you valuable time and effort.
Connect with us first, and get serving your customers sooner!
Business Grand Openings
Host Your Grand Opening with Us!
Opening a new business or launching a new location? We’re here to help you celebrate in a big way. Our department can assist with spreading the word and ensuring your milestone moment gets the recognition it deserves.
We can coordinate participation from the Mayor, members of Council, and other community dignitaries, helping you showcase your business to key leaders and the broader public. We’ll even bring the ceremonial scissors and ribbon, and capture photos of the event to share on our social media channels and with local media contacts.
A Grand Opening is a fantastic way to boost visibility, generate excitement, and introduce your business to the community. Let us help you make it memorable.
Ready to get started? Contact us to schedule your Grand Opening!
Milestone Celebration
We want to celebrate YOU and your business!
Is your business marking a 5, 10, 15 (or more!) year milestone? Let us help you share the news with the community. We’d love to support your celebration and be part of the excitement—because we love to be social!
Temporary Patio Permission
Thinking about setting up a temporary patio?
Patios, permanent and temporary, do require review and in some cases permits. Others may require an AGCO licence extension.
We’re here to help! Our team will review your request and guide you through the process to make it as simple as possible.