Ontario welcomes $4.165-million manufacturing investment in Quinte West
QUINTE WEST – The Ontario government is supporting an investment of $4,165,000 by All Season Fencing Inc. to boost local manufacturing and bring over 70 well-paying jobs to the Quinte region. As part of the investment, the government is providing All Season Fencing with $394,046 through the Eastern Ontario Development Fund (EODF), Todd Smith, MPP for Bay of Quinte announced today.
“Our government is building a strong Ontario and strengthening the economy by supporting key investments in our communities,” said Smith. “All Season Fencing’s investment will bring new life to a landmark former paper mill along the Trent River, providing in-demand building products, good jobs, and economic spin-off throughout the Quinte region.”
Since 2001, All Season Fencing has been engineering and manufacturing PVC vinyl fencing, decks, and railings. Its process uses recycled plastics to minimize waste. With growing market demand and an interest in developing new products, it began looking for a larger facility than its Toronto-based plant.
As part of the move, All Season Fencing has invested $2.1 million in facility modifications in Quinte West and $1.9 million to purchase new equipment including extruders, chillers, and dies. The facility will offer more space for production and warehousing. It also provides an opportunity for All Season Fencing to develop raw materials in house, lowering costs and sale price. New product offerings will include a roof shingles system, pellets and wall coverings with insulation.
“Thanks to the EODF All Season Fencing is furthering the design and production of advanced, sustainably-made Canadian building product,” said Moshe Yitzhack, President of All Season Fencing Inc. “Not only does an investment in a local manufacturer like us provide us with the opportunity to expand our production capacity, it allows us to continue to broaden our presence in national and international markets.”
Some 18 jobs have been retained, while All Season Fencing projects hiring for 53 additional positions. The median salary of the new jobs is higher than the region’s current median salary. The company will train extrusion operators and maintenance technicians to work on extrusion machinery. It also plans to create laboratory space for product testing. A planned partnership with Loyalist College will assist in training, educating and upscaling employees as the facility grows.
Between 2019 and 2023, Ontario is investing more than $100 million through its Regional Development Program (which includes the EODF, the Southwestern Ontario Development Fund, and the Advanced Manufacturing and Innovation Competitiveness Stream) to strengthen the advanced manufacturing sector and help meet regional needs. The program provides cost-sharing funding to businesses, municipalities, and economic development organizations to help local communities attract investment, diversify their economies, and create jobs.
Quinte West Mayor Jim Harrison was pleased to see the funding support economic growth in his city.
“We are grateful to hear of today’s funding supporting local job creation and retention within our Quinte West community,” said Harrison. “Boosting public and private investment in the Quinte region encourages growth of new and emerging industries, which means quality jobs and opportunities for further economic development.”
Since 2019, the Province has provided more than $81 million in support of 75 projects through the Regional Development Program, leveraging more than $860 million in new investments and helping create more than 1,490 jobs in the province.
“Our government is proud to support local manufacturers across the province as they grow and create more good-paying jobs in their communities,” said Vic Fedeli, Ontario’s Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. “Investing in these types of community-building projects will help us continue to build Ontario and strengthen the economy. We thank All Season Fencing for making a significant impact in their community and for contributing to our province’s dynamic and growing manufacturing sector.”
QUICK FACTS
- As part of the 2023 Ontario Budget (budget.ontario.ca/2023/), the government is proposing a new Ontario Made Manufacturing Investment Tax Credit, which would provide a 10 per cent refundable Corporate Income Tax credit to help local manufacturers lower their costs, invest in workers, innovate and become more competitive.
- The government launched the Regional Development Program (Ontario.ca/page/regional-development-program) for Eastern and Southwestern Ontario in November 2019. Businesses and municipalities can get financial support through the Eastern Ontario Development Fund and Southwestern Ontario Development Fund and guided access to a range of complementary services and supports.
- The government recently launched the Advanced Manufacturing and Innovation Competitiveness stream of the Regional Development Program. It will support Ontario advanced manufacturers to invest in the equipment, advanced technologies and skilled workforce needed to improve competitiveness and growth, and to create, retain and bring jobs back to every region of the province.