First project under the City’s Employment Development Concierge program
Invest Barrie is excited to share that on October 29, 2025, the new 103,000 square-foot UPS facility in south Barrie started construction. The new building represents UPS’s ongoing investment in expanding their network to meet growing business and residential demand in one of Ontario’s fastest-growing regions.
“Today’s groundbreaking marks the beginning of an important partnership between UPS and the City of Barrie,” said Mayor Alex Nuttall. “This new facility represents a significant investment in our community and will support long-term economic growth. We’re proud to work alongside UPS as they expand their operations right here in Barrie.”
This is the inaugural project that has been streamlined through the City of Barrie’s Employment Development Concierge program, which helps facilitate development review and improves efficiency for eligible projects. Through programs like the Employment Development Concierge, we’re making it better and easier to do business in Barrie. The UPS facility built and owned by Sorbarrie Developments Inc., a SORA Group company, is the first project under the Employment Development Concierge pilot to start construction.
Last December, the City launched the Employment Development Concierge Pilot Program to streamline the development review process and improve efficiency for qualifying applicants. The program offers enhanced support to help advance select projects based on criteria such as potential job creation upon completion.
Group hosted the groundbreaking event, with City of Barrie Mayor Alex Nuttall in attendance, as well as other government dignitaries
"Breaking ground on our new facility in Barrie marks an exciting step forward for UPS in Canada. As Barrie continues to grow, so does the need for reliable, efficient logistics—and we’re proud to be investing in the infrastructure that will support that growth,” noted Sean Griffin, President of UPS Canada. “This new centre will help us better serve our customers and strengthen our network in one of Ontario’s most dynamic regions.”
The facility will be operational in 2027 and help support UPS’s continued growth in Canada and its commitment to improving service and operational efficiency across the country. The new location is more than five times the size of UPS’s existing Barrie facility, and will have capacity for 90 package cars, serving customers in Barrie and surrounding regions.
“With an exceptional team of builders, architects, and engineers, we’re committed to delivering a world-class facility. This fast-track project has been made possible thanks to the outstanding collaboration and support from the City of Barrie,” stated Joe Hamadi, President, Sorbarrie Developments Inc., Sora Group of Companies. “Having worked and invested here for over 20 years, we’re thrilled to further that commitment with a $25 million investment in the city and look forward to completing the new UPS facility by October 2026.”
Invest Barrie works as matchmakers, creating connections that bind our vibrant business community. Our award-winning team connects entrepreneurs and enterprises to the information, tools, and networks they need to launch, invest, grow, and stay competitive. To connect or learn more about how we can help, please reach out to 705-728-9850 or email us at invest@barrie.ca.
Learn more about the Employment Development Concierge Program at barrie.ca/DevelopmentConciergePrograms.