Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing – The Government of Ontario is investing $324,900 in a support system that will help Lambton County’s rural businesses identify and act on growth opportunities, Associate Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Brian Coburn announced today.
“This initiative gives Lambton County businesses the resources they need for success in retaining and expanding their enterprises,” said Coburn who is responsible for rural affairs. “The province is pleased to be a partner in a project that focuses on revitalizing and strengthening the economy of communities in Lambton County.”
Known as Grow Lambton, the project is funded through the Rural Economic Development Program. Project partners Sarnia-Lambton Council for Economic Renewal and the Corporation of the County of Lambton will fund the balance of the $712,593 project.
Grow Lambton will expand resources for the Business Self-Help Office, and will provide businesses with counseling expertise in the areas of business start up; business development and growth planning; market development and planning; export development; business finance and financing growth; and assistance in accessing equity capital. The project will also help develop an on line delivery system for making counseling resources easily accessible across the county.
An ongoing survey will be developed to monitor business health and growth in Lambton County, and a business database will be established to monitor job creation in the county.
“The financial support provided by the Ontario government is a key component in our collective effort to improve the economy of the Lambton area by supporting business growth at the local levels.” said Brian Morris, Executive Director of the Sarnia Lambton Council for Economic Renewal.
“I am pleased that the Provincial Government is funding this project;” said Lambton Kent Middlesex MPP Marcel Beaubien. “I’ve always been very supportive of the Rural Economic Development Program. I believe that this project is a good step toward strong economic growth in Lambton.”
The five year, $200 million Rural Economic Development (RED) Program is a component of the Ontario Small Town and Rural (OSTAR) Development Initiative, a two part $600 million initiative launched in 2000 to assist rural Ontario.
The RED Program aims to remove barriers to economic growth in rural Ontario by promoting a diversified business climate; exploring new products and new markets; creating a climate for long term job growth; and investing in technologies and sectors that contribute to economic development in rural Ontario.
Posted in: SLEP News