Invest WindsorEssex to receive a $200,000-Government of Canada investment to support the participation of 120 local companies in the EV supply chain in Windsor-Essex
MEDIA RELEASE via Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade
Windsor, Ontario, July 19, 2023 — The automotive industry in Ontario is a pillar of Canada’s economy and provides thousands of jobs for workers and their families. As we move toward more sustainable solutions, southern Ontario has emerged as a prominent hub for automotive manufacturing and innovation, specifically in the electric vehicle (EV) sector. The Government of Canada is committed to supporting our manufacturers as they adopt more sustainable processes and technologies, increase their production capabilities, and create good jobs for Canadians.
Today, the Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), along with Irek Kusmierczyk, Member of Parliament for Windsor-Tecumseh, announced a $200,000-investment for Invest WindsorEssex (IWE) to support the long-term growth of the EV sector in the Windsor-Essex region.
Windsor-Essex and its surrounding communities are at the forefront of this exciting new chapter for southern Ontario’s automotive sector. The shift towards EV and battery manufacturing is opening up many new opportunities for existing suppliers in the region to meet the demand for parts and technologies that are essential for the production of EVs. It is also demonstrating to foreign businesses that southern Ontario and our strong workforce is the best destination to support the expansion of the automotive industry.
With this investment, IWE will help prepare 120 southern Ontario businesses to participate in the growing EV market. They will do this by identifying and preparing for new supply chain opportunities and building their workforces. IWE will develop and deliver at least eight new training workshops over the next two years. This support will help to ensure that Canadian companies have the talent they need to build their workforces and have the opportunity to contribute to this growing and important sector. This investment is about building an end-to-end Canadian supply chain that helps Canadian workers, businesses and manufacturers remain competitive and successful in the automotive industry.
This investment builds on the $7.5-million FedDev Ontario investment announced in May 2021 and a $5-million investment announced in 2019 for IWE to establish Canada’s first world-class automobility accelerator, which has been bringing together stakeholders in the region to support the development of secure, zero emission vehicles technology.
Today’s announcement supports the innovation and modernization of our manufacturing sector, which will help grow our economy, create good jobs, and fight climate change. The Government of Canada is investing in people across Windsor-Essex that have the potential to turn these endless possibilities into reality. We are committed to making your lives easier, your jobs better, and your communities stronger.
Quick Facts
- Invest WindsorEssex (IWE) is a not-for-profit organization responsible for advancing economic development to grow and sustain prosperity in the Windsor-Essex region.
- IWE has also been a strategic partner for FedDev Ontario in the region, leveraging over $12 million in funding since 2019 to build out an automobility cluster in the region.
- On July 12, FedDev Ontario announced a $300,000 investment for the London Economic Development Corporation (LEDC) to deliver a pilot project supporting the long-term growth of the EV sector in the London Region.
- Since 2015, FedDev Ontario has invested more than $41.5 million in 12 Electric Vehicle (EV) related projects, creating and maintaining more than 400 jobs.
- Since 2015, the Government of Canada, through FedDev Ontario, has invested nearly $50 million in more than 65 projects in Windsor, which are expected to create over 1,500 jobs and maintain over 4,100 jobs.
Quotes
“Invest WindsorEssex is helping to ensure Canadian workers and businesses in southern Ontario are at the forefront of EV innovation and production. Strategic investments, like the one made today, are positioning Canada towards a thriving future in the electric vehicle sector while also creating good local jobs that will benefit communities for years to come.”
– The Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
“”Today’s announcement brings great news for the EV sector in Windsor-Essex, as it will help to ensure our local companies have the resources, tools and support they need to capture new opportunities in the EV sector and attract and keep talent. This investment will help bolster our region’s position as a leader in the EV sector and represents a significant step towards supporting a greener future for southern Ontario.”
– Irek Kusmierczyk, Member of Parliament for Windsor-Tecumseh
“We are thrilled to receive this additional grant funding that will allow us to further support our existing companies identify and prepare for supply chain opportunities in the emerging electric vehicle and battery manufacturing space. Thank you to Minister Tassi and FedDev Ontario for your continued support for Windsor-Essex.”
– Stephen MacKenzie, President and CEO, Invest WindsorEssex