Harper Government Invests in Windsor-Essex Economy

For immediate release
January 26, 2010

KINGSVILLE, ON — 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.

For media enquiries, please contact:

Gary Toft, Director of Communications, Office of the Honourable Gary Goodyear, 613-943-7599

Media Relations, FedDev Ontario, 613-954-5543

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Backgrounder
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:

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

For more information, please visit the FedDev Ontario website at www.southernontario.gc.ca or call 1-866-593-5505.