Ontario invests $633K in Eastern Ontario manufacturers

PETERBOROUGH – The Ontario government is supporting an investment of nearly $5.5 million by three companies in Eastern Ontario to try and help strengthen local manufacturing, create jobs, attract investment and boost regional economic recovery. The province is investing nearly $633,000 through the Regional Development Program, which will aim to create 20 jobs.

“The Regional Development Program continues to support local manufacturers through targeted investments that allow businesses to create good local jobs,” said Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. “We thank Kawartha Metals, Colonial Concepts Log & Timberframe and Bélair Mechatronics for making a significant impact in their communities and for contributing to our province’s dynamic and growing manufacturing sector.”

Kawartha Metals Corp. in Peterborough is investing nearly $3.28 million in new equipment to expand its range of products and provide more value-added services to its growing customer base. The company is a supplier of steel, aluminum, brass, and plastics material in over 5,000 different sizes and grades and works with a wide range of customers, including manufacturers, fabricators and contractors. With Ontario’s investment of $327,650 from the Eastern Ontario Development Fund (EODF), Kawartha Metals will create 12 jobs. Through this project, the company will create a manufacturing space in its new facility in Peterborough and strengthen its regional supply chain.

Colonial Log & Timber Inc. (Colonial Concepts Log & Timberframe) in Lindsay manufactures log and timber framing components. The company is investing more than $1.3 million to fully automate its manufacturing process to gain efficiencies and double production from 25 to 50 home kits per year to meet customer demand. With Ontario’s investment of $195,252 from the Eastern Ontario Development Fund, Colonial Concepts Log & Timberframe will create 3 jobs. With the increased production capacity, the company expects to better compete and access new global markets.

Bélair Mechatronics Inc. (Kawartha Controls) in Omemee designs and manufactures hydraulic manifolds, other fluid power components and robotic auxiliary equipment. The company is investing $901,000 in new equipment and robotics to scale up its smart manufacturing processes and increase production to meet growing demand. This project will also help Bélair Mechatronics to develop manufacturing process innovations, such as software and robotics accessories, for future growth opportunities. With Ontario’s investment of $110,000 from the Eastern Ontario Development Fund, the company will create 5 jobs.

“Investing in local companies is critical to help grow our rural economy by increasing employment close to home and contributing to our recovery from the pandemic,” said Laurie Scott, MPP for Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock. “Our government knows how important the manufacturing sector is to local economies and that’s why we’re making investments like these to bring back industrial jobs communities rely on.”