BRANTFORD, ONTARIO – The Government of Canada is investing $740,000 to create new jobs and boost the local economy in Brant County. The announcement was made today by Member of Parliament for Brant Phil McColeman.

Skylar Electric Vehicles and Colonial Wood Products will each receive $250,000 and Contract Drilling Professionals will receive $240,000 to create jobs and expand their businesses.

“This investment represents new horizons for the manufacturers as well as new directions for our regional economy,” said MP Phil McColeman. “These projects are using innovative ‘green’ approaches to energy consumption and in turn, will create jobs in our communities.”

Skylar Electric Vehicles of Burford will test and manufacture electric vehicles for such potential markets as the agriculture and the mining industries. By replacing gas-based technology, electric vehicles can reduce costs for agricultural and mining industries while reducing emissions. The project will also create five new full-time jobs, including high-tech jobs in electrical engineering and technical assembly.

With its expansion into vertical geothermal drilling, Contract Drilling Professionals Inc. of Burford will add seven full-time jobs using high skilled members of the agricultural workforce to specialize in vertical drilling for geothermal loop installations in urban areas. The largest markets to this fossil fuel alternative are new home construction, industrial facilities as well as commercial and institutional buildings.

Strong demand for sawdust in the current market led Colonial Wood Products of Brantford to see an opportunity and expand their company with two new product lines. A unique bedding product for the equestrian market is composed almost entirely of sawdust from waste wood, and bulk sawdust created with high-speed processing. This initiative will not only benefit the environment by using the waste wood rather than having it accumulate in community landfill sites but will both retain and create twenty jobs.

The funding is being provided through the Sand Plains Community Development Fund and is administered by the Ontario Association of Community Futures Development Corporations. The fund targets community-based initiatives that support regional development, attract and retain people and investment, and stimulate business development and job creation. 

For more information on the Sand Plains Community Development Fund, please visit www.ontcfdc.com or www.sandplains.ca.