The new sign at the corner of Dissette/Line 8 and Artesian Industrial Parkway was officially unveiled on Wednesday.
Members of town council, representatives of the businesses located in the Artesian Industrial Park, Bradford Board of Trade representatives and members of the Economic Development Advisory Committee came out to see the completion of a project over six years in the making.
It was in 2013 that business owners Joe Matys, Mikki Nanowski and Carlos Botelho first came to council, asking for support for gateway signage to promote the industrial park.
Bradford’s earliest business park, now home to a wide range of businesses and services, was often described as 'one of Bradford’s best-kept secrets.
There was an existing sign, located on town property at the corner. Made of wood, it leaned precariously and was surrounded by weeds; it was hardly a way to promote a vibrant business park or attract new businesses to town, argued proponents of the new gateway signage.
They presented a design that incorporated stone and listed the names of companies within the park.
In 2016, Town Council approved the concept. A total of $45,000 was set aside in the 2017 budget - although the debate, over the funding and the design, continued.
It wasn’t until 2018 that the contract was awarded to local business e-signs Canada, and this spring that the construction actually began.
On July 31, e-Signs Canada owner Gary Brickell was among those who gathered to celebrate the completion of the imposing structure.
Of the 40 businesses within the Artesian Industrial Park, 30 opted to participate – each paying $226 to have their names listed on the sign. With that contribution, the town’s share of the cost came to approximately $38,000.
The new sign also cleans up an unsightly corner, and removes the old, rickety sign.
“It was an eyesore and safety hazard,” said manager of Economic Development Michael Disano, pointing out that the business park generates approximately $550,000 in taxes every year.
The new sign is attractive and bears the logo of the Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury – a green and blue swoosh.
The only thing it lacks is lighting; solar-powered lights were part of the original proposal.
But “that’s for another day,” said Botelho, who worked on the original design, and who was at the unveiling. He and other business owners thanked the municipality, for promoting Artesian Industrial Park and beautifying a corner of town.
