Harper government invests in Windsor-Essex economy

KINGSVILLE, ON, Jan. 26 /CNW/ - Thirteen small- and medium-sized businesses in the Windsor-Essex area will be expanding their operations and upgrading technology, thanks to the Government of Canada's Economic Action Plan investment of nearly $6.6 million . The announcement was made this morning by the Honourable Gary Goodyear , Minister of State for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) at Liqui-Force Services in Kingsville.

"This government is committed to creating jobs and supporting the people, communities and businesses of southern Ontario," said Minister Goodyear. "Our government's investments in the Windsor-Essex area will help strengthen the economy and give local businesses the resources they need to grow and become more competitive."

FedDev Ontario will provide more than $1.3 million to Liqui-Force, a provider of sewer maintenance and rehabilitation services in Canada and the United States . With this contribution, the company will design and engineer cutting-edge trenchless technology, which allows for the repair of existing underground infrastructure with minimal excavation and disruption. Developing this cost-effective equipment will result in the creation of 5 part-time and 10 full-time jobs at Liqui-Force.

"Thanks to this support from FedDev Ontario, we will be able to immediately advance the development of new trenchless, no-dig pipe rehabilitation technology," said Kim Lewis , Chairman and CEO of Liqui-Force. "These advancements will create jobs and lead to additional cost savings and environmental benefits for the municipalities we service."

These are among more than 60 projects that the Government of Canada intends to support through the general intake of the Southern Ontario Development Program (SODP). For a list of all 13 projects in the Windsor-Essex area, please refer to the backgrounder.

For additional details on the SODP, visit the FedDev Ontario web site at www.southernontario.gc.ca, or call 1-866-593-5505. For information on Canada's Economic Action Plan, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.

This news release is also available online at: www.southernontario.gc.ca and www.actionplan.gc.ca.

    
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                                 Backgrounder
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                 Southern Ontario Development Program (SODP)
    

Announced in Canada's Economic Action Plan, the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) was established to deliver federal economic development programs to support the priorities of workers, businesses and communities in Southern Ontario. Budget 2009 allocated $1 billion over five years for the new Agency.

The Southern Ontario Development Program (SODP) was established as a core program of FedDev Ontario. It will build upon the assets and strengths of communities to create an environment where businesses can thrive and maximize southern Ontario's potential to succeed in the knowledge-based economy.

Funding under this program will go towards projects that can stimulate local economies and enhance the growth and competitiveness of local businesses and communities. Approximately $100 million has been allocated to the SODP in 2009-10, including the following:

    
    -   Nearly $63 million through a general intake process;
    -   $20 million through an intake for the food and beverage processing
        sector;
    -   $15.75 million for the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters' (CME)
        SMART Program; and
    -   $1.6 million for the Ontario Chamber of Commerce's Export Market
        Access Program
    

The following are SODP contributions to companies in the Windsor-Essex area:

    
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    Funding Recipient      Project Title                         Federal
                                                                 Commitment
                                                                 (up to)
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    Broadband Wizard Inc.  Development of a Marketing Plan to    $67,251
                           Launch New Products
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    CenterLine Windsor     Purchase of New Equipment and         $350,000
    Ltd.                   Software to Improve Efficiency and
                           Reduce Costs
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    Confidence Tool &      Capital Expansion and                 $771,250
    Mould Design Inc.      Diversification into New Markets      (over 2
                                                                 years)
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    EnerQuest Services     Purchase of New Machinery to Improve  $246,500
    Inc.                   Efficiency and Competitiveness
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Integrity Tool & Mold  Purchase and Installation of          $906,500
    Inc.                   Equipment to Expand Production and
                           Develop New Markets
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    J&C Tool & Die Ltd.    Implementation of a                   $37,385
                           Computer-Assisted Design and
                           Manufacturing System
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Jahn Engineering       Acquisition of New Equipment for      $216,158
    Limited                Increased Competitiveness
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Liqui-Force Services   Development and Implementation of     $1,353,750
    Inc.                   New Business Process and Related
                           Technology
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Midwest Precision      Purchase of New Machinery to          $230,000
    Mould Ltd.             Increase Production Capacity          (over 2
                                                                 years)
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Omega Tool Corp.       Upgrading of Machinery to Increase    $699,000
                           Productivity
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Pattern Equipment &    Upgrading of Manufacturing Equipment  $185,000
    Prototype Corp.        and Software                          (over 2
                                                                 years)
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Platinum Tool          Expansion of Facility and             $1,250,000
    Technologies Inc.      Diversification of Business
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Southwestern           Expansion of Production Capabilities  $277,500
    Manufacturing Inc.     to Increase Market Access
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    Total                                                        $6,590,294
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For more information, please visit the FedDev Ontario website at www.southernontario.gc.ca or call 1-866-593-5505.

For further information: For media enquiries, please contact: Gary Toft, Director of Communications, Office of the Honourable Gary Goodyear, [phone]; Media Relations, FedDev Ontario, [phone]