Municipality of Emerson-Franklin
Emerson-Franklin is Manitoba’s front door to the United States and one of Canada’s most strategic border crossings. Built on a legacy of railways, border crossings, and international commerce, Emerson-Franklin has been connecting people, goods, and markets for more than 150 years. Emerson-Franklin is a community built on movement and connecting Canadian businesses to North American markets while offering a strong foundation for trade, transportation, tourism, and investment.
Our Story
Emerson-Franklin has been a gateway for trade, transportation, and opportunity since Manitoba’s inception. From its beginnings as a railway border town at Canada’s first land border crossing, the municipality has grown into a strategic hub connecting Canadian businesses to North American markets through the Emerson-Pembina Port of Entry. Today, Emerson-Franklin combines rich agricultural roots, robust transportation infrastructure, and historic rural communities.
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Development Advantages
A border trade hub with strong infrastructure and high-growth development potential.
Trade, Logistics, and Transportation Hub
The municipality offers exceptional transportation connectivity with access to three Class I railways (CN, CPKC, and BNSF), and proximity to Winnipeg and CentrePort Canada.
Development-Worthy Land
The Emerson-Pembina border crossing includes approximately 120 acres designated for commercial, retail, and light industrial development, with opportunities for build-to-suit projects.
Strong Agricultural Foundation
The Municipality combines highly capable farmland with direct access to transportation and export markets.
Skilled Workforce and Business Support
The municipality benefits from a sophisticated workforce with strengths in agriculture, transportation, logistics, and manufacturing.
Tourism and Cross-Border Commerce Opportunities
The municipality sees significant cross-border traffic and serves as a natural stop for travellers entering Manitoba. This creates opportunities for hotels, restaurants, retail, fuel services, tourism attractions, and visitor-oriented businesses
Emerson Economic Development Zone
The Emerson Economic Development Zone is a 120-acre development-ready trade and logistics hub positioned at one of Canada’s most important international trade gateways. As the most active land border crossing west of Windsor for Canada–U.S. trade, the border crossing handles approximately two-thirds of Manitoba's exports, processes $70–80 million in commercial freight daily, and is projected to experience more than 50% growth in trade volumes by 2035.
Designed to support logistics, warehousing, manufacturing, transportation services, hospitality, retail, and agricultural supply businesses, the Emerson Economic Development Zone offers direct access to PTH 75, Interstate 29, CN and BNSF rail connections, municipal servicing, high-speed fibre internet, and available development land. The site is envisioned as Canada's premier border-focused business hub, creating jobs, attracting investment, and capturing the economic benefits of growing North American trade.
Investment Highlights
120 acres of development-worthy land adjacent to the Emerson-Pembina Port of Entry
Most active Canada–U.S. land border crossing west of Windsor by trade value
Two-thirds of Manitoba exports move through the crossing
$70–80 million in commercial freight processed daily
Trade volumes projected to increase by more than 50% by 2035
Direct access to PTH 75, Interstate 29, and multiple rail connections
Serviced by water, wastewater, fibre internet, and transportation infrastructure
Planned for logistics, manufacturing, warehousing, commercial services, hospitality, and tourism development
Located just 92 km south of Winnipeg and CentrePort Canada
