Since becoming Minister of State for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario more than a year ago, I have had the opportunity to engage with Canadians and listen to stakeholders outline their concerns about the state of our economy.
We are committed to building an environment in southern Ontario that supports innovation and productivity and will work to create a Southern Ontario Advantage by positioning the region to compete in the global, knowledge-based economy.
Today, at the Annual General Meeting of the Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce in Windsor, I was pleased to launch the Prosperity Initiative, part of a series of new funding initiatives FedDev Ontario will deliver to build a Southern Ontario Advantage.
Up to $210 million will be available over the next four years for projects in three key areas:
- Enhancing productivity, by accelerating the adoption of new technologies, processes and skills to enhance businesses and sectors in southern Ontario to achieve higher output in relation to their investments;
- Diversifying the regional economy, by increasing the number of new industries or opportunities in southern Ontario communities or regions with the potential to have long-term impacts on their economic diversity; and
- Building a competitive advantage, by developing and expanding strategic economic clusters that will have an impact on the global economy.
- I invite businesses, not-for-profit organizations and post-secondary institutions located in southern Ontario to submit applications for this new initiative. Note that each component of the Prosperity Initiative has different eligibility and funding criteria.
I look forward to seeing the projects that are submitted and the communities and business sectors that will benefit from this initiative.
Further details about the Prosperity Initiative are available on our website at www.feddevontario.gc.ca. You may also contact us by toll-free telephone at 1-866-593-5505, or via e-mail at info@feddevontario.gc.ca.
Yours sincerely,
The Honourable Gary Goodyear, P.C., M.P.
Minister of State (Science and Technology) (Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario)
