Four Kitchener businesses share in regional development funding
Four Kitchener-Waterloo area businesses will use more than $2 million in supports from the province to kickstart combined investments of more than $20 million in expansion projects.
The province is providing the funding through its Regional Development Program for Eastern and Southwestern Ontario. The money will help create 85 jobs and retain 233 jobs.
“Through the Regional Development Program, our government is making targeted investments in local manufacturers to help them create good, local jobs,” said Economic Development Minister Vic Fedeli. “These projects are making a significant impact in communities and economies across Waterloo Region by helping to secure private-sector investments to create conditions for long-term economic growth.”
Huron Digital Pathology is investing nearly $4.7 million to expand its manufacturing capacity to meet global demand for its new TissueScope iQ digital pathology scanner. With $500,000 in support from the Southwestern Ontario Development Fund, the company will create five jobs and retain 22 positions. Hospitals and research centres worldwide use the TissueScope iQ scanner to digitize glass biopsy slides for disease diagnosis and advancing cancer research.
Blendtek Ingredients, meanwhile, is investing over $6.2 million to expand and upgrade its ingredient solutions and product development facility. A provincial investment of $940,000 will help the company create 21 jobs and retain 37 positions. Serving customers across North America, the company manufactures and distributes ingredients for the food, pharmaceutical and industrial sectors.
“At Blendtek, we’re driven by our mission to fuel innovation in food and have made a conscious decision to support the ‘Made in Ontario’ movement,” said President Steve Zinger. “Our participation in the Regional Development Program will support the construction and expansion of our new processing facility in Cambridge, Ontario leading to job creation and purposeful investment into our food product Research & Development initiatives.”
RTS Companies Inc. is investing $5 million to construct a new 15,000-square-foot facility to accommodate production of disinfectant wipes for hard surfaces such as shopping carts. Ontario is investing $500,000 from the Southwestern Ontario Development Fund, which will support RTS in creating 12 jobs and retaining 23 positions. Locally sourced inputs will allow the company to control its supply chain and meet consumer demand for new products.
Finally, Kitchener’s Delta Elevator Company Ltd. is investing more than $4.5 million to help the company expand and modify operations at a new facility. The project will improve efficiency and production capacity, as well as add new in-house capabilities and result in a reduction in outsourcing. The R&D is related to the development of novel elevator system configurations.
“With over 50 years of history in Southern Ontario, Delta Elevator is pleased to be able to continue its growth with the help of this grant,” said Andrew Friedel, President of Delta Elevator. “It will help create jobs, increase capacity, and improve production processes.
The $100-million Regional Development Program provides cost-shared funding to businesses, municipalities, and economic development organizations to help local communities attract investment, diversify their economies, and create jobs.
Featured image: The Delta Elevator manufacturing plant in Kitchener. (Delta Elevator)