Four Ottawa businesses share in $3.8 million for facility upgrades
The provincial government has announced an investment of more than $3.8 million to help four Ottawa businesses expand their facilities and create jobs.
The funding is being provided through the Regional Development Program, and is expected to help create 63 jobs and retain 141 others.
“Our government’s top priority throughout the pandemic has been protecting the province’s health and protecting our jobs and economy,” said Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. “These projects will make a significant impact in our Eastern Ontario communities and economies. They will enable long-term measurable outcomes, including private-sector investments, job creation and retention, and strong regional growth.”
Beau-Roc Inc. is being granted $1.8 million to help build a second facility in which it will manufacture bodies for dump trucks. The project is valued at $12 million and is expected to create 30 jobs and help retain 84 others. Founded in 1985, the company manufactures premium dump bodies for a wide range of customers and applications across Canada and the United States. The new facility will reduce lead times and enable Beau-Roc to take on custom orders for larger dump bodies.
“This funding will greatly help us with the development of our new, additional manufacturing facility designed to meet the rapidly growing demand for our products in Canada and the US,” said general manager Nathalie St-Pierre. “The expansion will add 30 new skilled and professional jobs while increasing our overall capacity by an estimated 50 percent. There will also be a significant positive spin-off effect to our supply chain within Ontario and Quebec.”
LTR Industries (Ottawa) Ltd. is expanding its millwork production facilities to compete for larger contracts and grow its business. Its $5.2-million project is supported with $780,000 from the Eastern Ontario Development Fund, which will help to create 17 jobs and to retain 31 positions. LTR Industries supplies commercial millwork to the general construction industry, interior designers and individual commercial/residential clients, and offers complete design/build services or pre-costed tendered jobs.
“The LTR production expansion project is progressing according to plan and workforce expansion is well underway,” said LTR Industries CEO and past chair of the Ottawa Construction Association Brian Vlaming. “Thanks to this funding from the government, new equipment is being ordered and sales for the current year are well ahead of projections, in spite of the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Lumibird Ltd. is investing $7.3 million in facility upgrades and new equipment, as well as boosting its R&D work for the company’s light detection and ranging technologies. Ontario is providing $1.09 million from the Eastern Ontario Development Fund to help the company create nine jobs and help retain 16 positions. The company specializes in laser technologies with applications in wind energy, meteorology, environmental safety, climate change monitoring, aviation safety, industrial automation, space and defence.
Finally, KB Media Corp. is building expanded, consolidated premises for the design and production of its print media, signage, wraps, and web services. This $898,000-project is being supported with $134,700 from the Eastern Ontario Development Fund. This investment will create seven jobs and help to retain 10 positions. KB Media Corp, which was founded in 2009, offers a one-stop shop to help companies design and manage their corporate branding.
“Thanks to this funding, KB Media will greatly benefit from an expanded facility and a more innovative production flow to better serve our ever-growing business community,” said KB Media Corp. CEO Mark Kelly. “This program is truly adding to the success of small businesses in Prescott-Russell; we feel very fortunate to be a part of it.”
Ontario is investing more than $100 million through the Regional Development Program from 2019 to 2023 to support distinct regional priorities and challenges. The program, which launched in 2018, provides cost-shared funding to businesses, municipalities and economic development organizations to help local communities attract investment, diversify their economies, and plan for long-term sustainability and growth.
Featured image: Dump-truck body manufacturer Beau-Roc is one of four Ottawa-area companies to share in funding from the province. (Beau-Roc)