Ontario investing over $2.6M in three Southwestern Ontario businesses

GUELPH — The Ontario government is investing over $2.6 million in three businesses in Guelph through the Regional Development Program, supporting a total investment of $23 million in domestic manufacturing and chemical processing. This investment hopes to help attract local investment, create 45 jobs and help retain over 370 jobs in Guelph.

Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, made the announcement on June 29 in Guelph, where the three local projects were announced.

“As Ontario turns the corner on the COVID-19 pandemic, one of our top priorities is economic growth and recovery,” said Minister Fedeli. “These projects will make a significant impact in their local economies. They will enable long-term measurable outcomes, including private-sector investments, job creation, job retention and strong regional growth.”

Walinga Inc., a third-generation family owned business, announced a $7.5 million expansion to manufacture two new agricultural products, one of which will be new to the industry. They are creating 15 new jobs and retaining 185, with $1.125 million from the Southwestern Ontario Development Fund. This investment hopes to assist in the expansion of their facility and help them purchase new equipment, enabling production of two new agricultural products called the milinator and the barge unloader. The milinator, which is a new product for the industry, will help transform animal by-product into fertilizer. The barge unloader features a new vacuum and pressure unloader and targets markets with large receiving ports and dock spaces.

Ontario is also investing in two other Guelph-area projects.

PDI Bulk is investing $5 million in specialized equipment for a new process to blend frozen chemicals for the polymer, chemical, and food sectors. They are creating nine new jobs, with $750,000 from the Southwestern Ontario Development Fund.

Newton Group Ltd. is investing $10.3 million to install equipment which will be the first-of-its-kind in Canada aimed to drastically improve a pre-fab building system for the construction market. The company is expanding its existing facility by 40,000 square feet to implement production of the new system which has already generated interest from developers throughout Canada. They are creating 21 new jobs while retaining over 75, with $800,000 from the Southwestern Ontario Development Fund. The new advanced manufacturing equipment will include robotics, which will help the company improve productivity and remain competitive. Newton Group is a vertically integrated general contractor that manufactures prefabricated building systems, providing solutions to customers including industrial companies, college and universities, and individual owners looking to build cost-effective and durable buildings using innovative modular construction.