A London brewery is among 33 businesses in southwestern Ontario's agri-food and beverage sector getting a cut of $2.1-million in federal and provincial funding.
London North Centre MPP Deb Matthews and MP Peter Fragiskatos announced the money at the London Brewing Co-op on Burbank Pl. on Friday.
“The food and beverage sector is incredibly important to London and the region of Southwestern Ontario," said Fragiskatos. "Federal and provincial cooperation is helping this vital sector thrive, and I congratulate all businesses receiving funding. We know these investments will boost the local economy in London and help meet our goal of providing good middle-class jobs for Londoners.”
The London Brewing Co-op, a craft brewer in Old East will get $92,633 from the Growing Forward 2 fund, which it will use for upgraded brewing equipment.
Four other London-based companies are slated to receive a chunk of the funding. Black Fly Beverage Company will get $250,000 for new automated end-of-line packaging equipment and a bottle blowing system. Forked River Brewing Corporation will receive $108,000 for canning lines and automated equipment. The Original Cakerie will use its $100,000 cut to purchase and install an automated case packaging and palletizing system, while the $100,000 for McCormick Canada will go to new filler equipment and first-time staff training.
“By investing in agri-food businesses in Southwestern Ontario, our government is supporting the economic growth of this region," said Matthews.
The federal government has set a goal of increasing Canada’s agri-food exports to $75-billion by 2025.