Ben presents the Huron Business Development Corporation with a cheque for the creation of an aerospace manufacturing training facility at the Huron Park Airport
From left to right: Roy Hardy, CAO Municipality of South Huron, Mayor Ken Oke, Municipality of South Huron, Rick Hundey, Huron Business Development Corporation , Paul Nichol, Huron Business Development Corporation, Ben Lobb, MP Huron—Bruce, Blaine Field, Goderich Aircraft Inc. And Michael Hanwell, Fanshawe College

Goderich, Ontario — Ben Lobb, MP for Huron-Bruce, today announced the creation of an aerospace manufacturing training facility at the Huron Park Airport in the Municipality of South Huron. This project will be moving forward thanks to an investment of more than $1.3 million to stimulate the local economy under the Community Adjustment Fund (CAF) in Southern Ontario.

This investment will create immediate employment opportunities and support the local economy.  CAF will benefit communities throughout Southern Ontario with populations of fewer than 250,000 that rely heavily on manufacturing and natural resources.

“Our Government is delivering results to Canadians and results for the residents of Huron-Bruce.  I congratulate the partners – Huron Business Development Corp, the Municipality of South Huron, Goderich Aircraft, Fanshawe College, and the Huron Industrial Park Tenant’s Association – for identifying the opportunity and coming together to make it happen.  This partnership will create jobs and economic growth for the riding.” said MP Lobb.

“South Huron is encouraged by the recognition of the federal government of the merits of this proposal and the hard work of the partners to create 235 new jobs in Huron Park for the benefit of the whole County,” said Mr. Ken Oke, South Huron Mayor and Warden of Huron County.

“Our company is fortunate to be able to provide employment for over 150 residents of Huron-Bruce,” said Mr. Blaine Field, President of Goderich Aircraft Inc.  “Working with the other project partners, we identified access to high-level training opportunities as the primary obstacle to growing our aerospace manufacturing cluster in South Huron.  We are thrilled that the Government of Canada, through Mr. Lobb’s leadership on the issue, has responded with such a significant investment and are proud to be able to provide direct investment of our own into the Facility.”

This project was part of the up to $102 million investment made through the Community Adjustment Fund for 2009-2010, announced on August 27 by the Honourable Gary Goodyear, newly appointed Minister of State for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario). It is the government's intention to support a total of 90 projects in communities across Southern Ontario that are struggling with the effects of the global economic downturn.

Approved projects must meet the terms and conditions set out in their funding agreements. A complete list of approved projects in Southern Ontario will be made available online at www.ic.gc.ca/caf on September 10, 2009.

Applications for 2010-2011 CAF project funds will be accepted by FedDev Ontario later this year. A public announcement will be made once details are finalized.

CAF is just one in a series of initiatives introduced in the Government of Canada’s Economic Action Plan designed to address the short-term effects of the economic decline on communities across Canada, while preparing our communities for long-term growth. For more information on Canada’s Economic Action Plan, please visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.