The Ontario government is providing funding for economic development projects across Northumberland-Peterborough South, including more than 143-thousand dollars for a Port Hope initiative focused on manufacturing and energy.
The funding comes through the province’s Rural Ontario Development program, a 20-million-dollar initiative aimed at strengthening local economies, supporting rural workers and helping communities plan for long-term growth.
Through the program’s first intake, the province is providing $153,169.50 for projects in the riding, according to the announcement.
The largest investment is $143,169.50 for the Municipality of Port Hope’s Building Resilience: Manufacturing & Energy Sector Readiness project.
The project is intended to help local businesses prepare for emerging opportunities in the energy and advanced manufacturing sectors.
The Municipality of Port Hope has previously announced that the initiative will examine the strengths, gaps and growth potential of local manufacturers, industrial service providers and related supply chain businesses.
The funding is also supporting Oat & Mill in Colborne, which is receiving $10,000 for an update to its marketing materials.
The company says support from the Rural Ontario Development program helped it launch its Wild Child product line in major Canadian grocery chains, including Metro, Sobeys and Whole Foods Market, with the company saying that growth translates into more local jobs.
The provincial announcement also includes $13,974 for the Municipality of Clarington’s Orono Economic Development Strategy and Marketing Plan.
The Ontario government says the first intake of the Rural Ontario Development program is supporting 116 projects across rural Ontario, with more than $5.5 million in total funding.
Since 2019, the province says it has invested $34.3 million through the Rural Ontario Development program and the former Rural Economic Development Fund, supporting 653 projects.
MPP David Piccini says the investments are intended to give rural communities tools to support small businesses, strengthen municipalities and plan for long-term economic growth.
(Branden Rushton)
