When the Artemis II spacecraft returned to Earth, one small but critical piece of the mission came from an unlikely place: in the Township of Edwardsburg Cardinal, immediately south of Ottawa.
Marine markers manufactured by HFI Pyrotechnics were used by the U.S. Navy to identify the spacecraft’s splashdown zone in the Pacific Ocean, adding another milestone to a company that has continuously manufactured pyrotechnics in Canada since 1873.
The defence company is now embarking on a $120 million expansion at its Edwardsburgh Cardinal facility, the first phase of a five-year growth plan. The investment, supported by new contracts and funding, will expand HFI’s infrastructure, production capacity and technical capabilities for military training and search-and-rescue products, while creating new jobs and research opportunities in Leeds Grenville.
‘Home to major manufacturers with a global reach
“Leeds Grenville has a very diverse business base,” says Ann Weir, economic development manager for the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville. “While many people know us for our tourism industry and thriving small-business community, we’re also home to major manufacturers with a global reach.”
HFI is just one example of the region’s diverse industrial base and part of a significant chemistry cluster. Companies such as Evonik, Shell, Greenfield Global and 3M have established major operations in the region, creating high-quality jobs and serving global markets.
“A major competitive advantage is our transportation infrastructure,” Weir says. “Leeds Grenville is home to the second-largest intermodal transportation hub east of Alberta, with the Port of Johnstown, Canadian Rail Equipment Works and Services, the 400 series highways, and two international bridge crossings into the U.S. That combination makes our region an ideal location for manufacturing, logistics and transportation companies.”
Industrial lands available for development and future investment
While companies such as HFI Pyrotechnics continue to grow and expand, the industrial sector is also undergoing significant change. INVISTA has announced it will close its chemical manufacturing facility in Maitland in September 2027. County officials, however, see the transition as an opportunity for future investment.
“The INVISTA property in the Augusta Township Industrial Park represents one of the most significant industrial development opportunities in Ontario,” says Weir. “The site is already zoned for heavy industrial uses — one of only two sites in the province with that designation — and it comes with an experienced, highly skilled workforce. We’re working closely with INVISTA and prospective investors who have expressed interest in the property.”
Additional industrial lands are also on the horizon. New opportunities are expected to be announced in the Township of Edwardsburgh Cardinal this fall, while studies are currently underway that could open additional greenfield lands in the Township of Elizabethtown-Kitley beginning in 2027.
To support companies considering expansion, the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville has built a new and robust economic development website, making it easier for businesses to identify suitable locations to plan future growth.
