When it comes to essential sectors during a worldwide pandemic, manufacturing tops the list. Manufacturers produce food, pharmaceutical goods, vehicles, machinery and tools, and a countless number of other products that all have an immeasurable effect on our daily lives.
A recent survey to measure impacts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic on Canada’s manufacturing sector found that more than two-thirds of Canadian manufacturers have lost tens of millions of dollars in business because of difficulties at the Canada/U.S. border.
“Helping local communities and local municipalities create jobs will ensure that no region of Ontario is left behind as we emerge from the pandemic and lay the foundation for long-term growth and opportunity. By attracting private-sector investment, creating jobs, and supporting growth in the Ayr region, Techo-Bloc will be a corner stone in the community for years to come.”
– Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade
Administered through the Regional Development Program, the Government of Ontario is investing $1.5 million in Techo-Bloc to establish its first local manufacturing facility in Ayr, Ontario, located in the Waterloo Region. FedDev Ontario is also contributing $2.5 million in repayable contributions towards the regional growth project.
Techo-Bloc’s new facility is anticipated to create at least 50 new jobs in Waterloo’s manufacturing sector as the province continues to prepare for strong economic recovery following the global COVID-19 pandemic.
About Techo-Bloc and its New Manufacturing Facility
Techo-Bloc produces common concrete pavement products mainly used for landscaping, such as garden walls, patio slabs, paving stones, and outdoor firepits. With longstanding operations in Quebec and the United States, the company also manufactures permeable pavement solutions that allow water to pass underground and return to the local aquifer source, which is crucial for regions like Waterloo that rely primarily on groundwater systems.
“Techo-Bloc’s decision to invest in Ayr is a proof point that Southwest Ontario will continue to be a major manufacturing hub today, and into the future. Our talented workforce will continue to attract investment and support growth as Ontario emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic.”
– Amy Fee, Member of Provincial Parliament for Kitchener South—Hespeler and Mike Harris, Member of Provincial Parliament for Kitchener—Conestoga.
Techo-Bloc hopes to make the new manufacturing facility in Ayr its worldwide centre of excellence and innovation, as well as its research and development hub for new products and process development. To boost local productivity and increase capacity to expand into new markets, Techo-Bloc plans to purchase all-new, state-of-the-art equipment for the Ayr facility. The company anticipates a 40 per cent increase in revenue from the project, which will be a catalyst for new sales in Central and Western Canada and the United States.
Government Funding for Business Expansion and Economic Growth Through EODF and SWODF
Since it launched in late-2019, the Regional Development Program has been providing financial support to businesses and municipalities across Ontario through the Eastern Ontario Development Fund (EODF) and the Southwestern Ontario Development Fund (SWODF) to help communities in Ontario attract investment, strengthen their economies, and plan for long-term sustainability.
Through EODF or SWODF, eligible businesses located in Ontario can receive up to $500,000 to $5 million in government funding support for projects improving productivity, innovation, competitiveness, the potential to export goods, and the creation of high-value, sustainable jobs across the province.
Register for an upcoming Mentor Works webinar to learn more about which Canadian government funding programs could help your business meet its project goals.