Ontario invests $6 million in area manufacturing
Province invests in SWO businesses to strengthen manufacturing and agri-food production
Photo: Attica Manufacturing will receive $531,000 from the Southwestern Ontario Development Fund to support a $5.3 million investment
THE ONTARIO GOVERNMENT is supporting an investment of nearly $43.2 million by London-area manufacturers to strengthen domestic manufacturing and agri-food production and attract investment in the local economy.
The Ontario government is investing more than $6 million in five London-area businesses to strengthen domestic manufacturing and agri-food production and attract investment in the local economy.
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The investment, made through the Regional Development Program, is supporting an investment of nearly $43.2 million by London-area manufacturers, which will help create 134 jobs and retain 133 jobs.
“Through the Regional Development Program, our government is making targeted investments in local manufacturers to help them create good, local jobs,” says Vic Fedeli, minister of economic development, job creation and trade. “These projects are making a significant impact in communities and economies across London and Southwestern Ontario by helping to secure private-sector investments to create conditions for long-term economic growth and build an economy that makes Ontario the best place in the world to do business, work and raise a family.”
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Shogun Maitake, which will leave its London location on Colonel Talbot Road, is investing more than $31.2 million to build a new production facility in Thames Centre, which will process Maitake mushrooms for the agri-pharm and bio-pharmaceutical industries.
With $4.5 million from the Southwestern Ontario Development Fund, the company will purchase new processing equipment for an innovative state-of-the-art facility that will enhance productivity and make production more efficient. The investment will grow the company’s total revenues and employment, creating 60 new jobs and retaining two existing positions. Shogun Maitake is a producer of Maitake mushrooms, sold in various forms including fresh, dried, and ground or extracted. The company’s competitive advantage is the quality of their products, which are also used in clinical studies for cancer research.
Yoshinodu Odaira, CEO of Shogun Maitake Canada (file photo)
“Shogun Maitake Canada has been operating in Canada since 2017 and has now received support from the Government of Ontario and the City of Thames Centre to expand its facility,” says Yoshinodu Odaira, CEO of Shogun Maitake Canada. “The new 135,000-square-foot facility, which will cost more than $31.2 million, will create about 60 new jobs in order to eliminate a significant supply shortage. In addition, our black maitake mushrooms are not only delicious, but their health benefits are the most attractive feature. We will begin selling the supplement next year, expanding access to this food that has shown significant signs of various positive health effects.”
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Attica Manufacturing is investing more than $5.3 million to acquire new capital equipment and modify its production facility in London, which will support market diversification and the commercialization of new products.
With $531,000 from the Southwestern Ontario Development Fund, the company will purchase and install new CNC machinery, welding and welding position equipment, and lifting magnets. The project will help the company improve its efficiency and capacity, while also creating 15 new jobs and retaining 48 existing positions. Attica manufactures machined parts, providing services to customers that include prototype and production machining, conventional and CNC machining, assembly, welding and fabrication, as well as engineering and mechanical design.
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“We are pleased to announce that Attica Manufacturing, with help from the Southwestern Ontario Development Fund, has been able to advance our technologies with new machining equipment capable of creating complex geometries at much faster throughputs than ever before,” says Andy Mavrokefalos, president of Attica Manufacturing. “This armament of both machinery and software has advanced our current and new staff and created a greater diversity in the areas we serve which include cleantech, defense, aerospace, and healthcare industries. We have been well on our way to hit our new jobs targets and are continuing to add to our amazing talented staff in the advanced manufacturing sector.”
Additional recipients include Algonquin Bridge in Thorndale, Arva Industries in St. Thomas and Planet Shrimp (a brand of RAS Technologies) in Aylmer.
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“The Elgin-Middlesex-London region is home to a world-class manufacturing sector that represents a critical component of the provincial economy,” adds Jeff Yurek, MPP for Elgin-Middlesex-London. “I am very pleased to see the continued innovation and growth these businesses are bringing to our community as we prepare for a strong economic recovery.”
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 provides cost-shared funding to businesses, municipalities and economic development organizations to help local communities attract investment, diversify their economies and create jobs. 