Ontario Welcomes $65 Million Boost to Niagara Region Manufacturing Sector
January 17, 2024
Expansion projects by three companies will create 46 new, good-paying jobs
The Ontario government is supporting $65 million in investments by three companies to boost local manufacturing and create 46 new, good-paying jobs in the Niagara Region. As part of these investments, the province is providing the companies with $6.7 million in support through the Regional Development Program (RDP).
“The Niagara Region is home to a robust manufacturing community, and thanks to their continued growth and investment, we can be confident that our targeted approach to fostering stability and growth across our economy is working,” said Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. “Our government is proud to support local businesses as they expand and create new jobs in communities across the province.”
Niagara Region recipients include:
- Stanpac Inc. manufactures dairy, food and beverage packaging for businesses around the world. With an investment of over $35 million in advanced equipment, robotics, and upgrades, Stanpac will increase the efficiency of its facility in Smithville, including creating a machine shop to service all machinery in-house. The project is supported by more than $3.3 million in funding through the RDP and will create 30 new jobs.
- AMSI Inc. designs and constructs e-houses, a prefabricated building that houses electrical equipment for a wide range of industries including power generation, mining, industrial automation, hydro and electrical distribution, oil and gas, public transportation, biomass and the environmental sectors. The company will invest about $20 million to construct a new 67,000 square-foot manufacturing facility to improve manufacturing processes for large, complex equipment that will increase productivity and growth. The project is supported by $2.1 million in funding through the RDP and will create nine new jobs.
- St. David’s Cold Storage, a company that provides cold, freezer and ambient storage solutions to food and beverage manufacturers, is investing $9 million to expand its facility and double its refrigerated storage space. This will include one of the first CO2-based refrigerant systems in Canada, as well as additional upgrades to limit energy consumption, helping the company to scale up their operations to begin exporting. The project is supported by over $1.3 million in funding through the RDP and will create seven new jobs for recent graduates and local young professionals.
Ontario is investing $140 million through its Regional Development Program to help manufacturers across the province grow, while supporting distinct regional priorities and challenges. To date, Ontario has provided more than $122 million to support more than 100 projects through the program, leveraging more than $1.3 billion in new investments and helping to create more than 2,500 jobs in the province.
“Niagara has long been a manufacturing powerhouse, employing tens of thousands of people in the automotive, paper, steel, hydroelectric and food processing sectors,” said Sam Oosterhoff, Member of Provincial Parliament for Niagara West. “Our government is continuing to support this manufacturing legacy with strategic investments through the Regional Development Program, ensuring Niagara remains a top destination for jobs and talent well into the future.”
Applications are now being accepted for the next intake round of RDP funding until January 25, 2024.
Quick Facts
- The government launched the Regional Development Program for eastern and southwestern Ontario in November 2019. Through this program, businesses and municipalities can get financial support and guided access to a range of complementary services and supports.
- In 2022, the government launched the Advanced Manufacturing and Innovation Competitiveness stream of the Regional Development Program. It supports advanced manufacturers across the province, including those in the automotive, aerospace, chemical, life sciences and steel sectors, to invest in the equipment, advanced technologies and the skilled workforce needed to improve competitiveness and growth, and to create and retain jobs across the province.
- As part of the 2023 Ontario Budget, the government introduced the Ontario Made Manufacturing Investment Tax Credit, which provides a 10 per cent refundable Corporate Income Tax credit to help local manufacturers lower their costs, invest in workers, innovate and become more competitive.
Additional Resources
Learn more about the Regional Development Program
Related Story
Ontario Innovation Takes Centre Stage During Trade Mission to the United States
The Ontario government has concluded a successful trade mission to the United States to promote the province’s flourishing automotive, technology and life sciences sectors and attract new investment opportunities. Two delegations of more than 29 Ontario companies, led by Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, represented the province at two of the world’s largest technology and innovation conferences – the Consumer Electronics Show and the JP Morgan Healthcare Conference and Biotech Showcase.
