Sarnia's OWS Rail Car is getting $832,000 in federal government funding to invest in new technology and maintenance and create local jobs.
It's part of a $6.5-million investment into six companies across the region under the FedDev Ontario program.
Company Vice President Jason Carriere said it's an exciting development that will allow them to expand their services.
He's anticipating they'll double their workforce over the next two to three years, creating about a dozen new positions like railway electricians and mechanics.
"One of the large items is going to be to improve the facility and tool up to accommodate some pretty high tech repairs on locomotives," said Carriere. "A lot of that would be utilized as well toward training our personnel to actually install what's called a PTC or Positive Train Control system."
Carriere said this will make OWS one of the only suppliers in the area that's qualified and capable of installing the PTC technology.
PTC systems determine the precise location, direction and speed of trains, warn operators of potential problems and safely bring the train to a stop if the operator does not act.
Carriere sees the company expanding in the coming years.
"Expansion on the job front, and expansion on services as well," he said. "Not only PTC, but other services. Being located close to the U.S. border in Sarnia, we're hoping to draw up a lot of business from the U.S. as well."
Sarnia-Lambton MP Marilyn Gladu is the Shadow Minister of FedDev Southern Ontario.
She said the funding is huge for our region.
"Our area is hugely based on railcar transportation for many of the commodities that are produced," said Gladu. "This is an industry that supports them and has potential to grow and create jobs for us and prosperity for our area."
Gladu said several industries both in Sarnia-Lambton and across the country have been devastated this year due to the pandemic, and they need all the support they can get.
The money comes on the heels of a $2-million investment into Bioindustrial Innovation Canada for a PPE repurposing project.