Government of Canada Invests in Skills Development to Help Canadian Manufacturers Compete Globally

LONDON, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Jan. 23, 2012) - Bev Shipley, Member of Parliament for Lambton-Kent-Middlesex, on behalf of the Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), announced today an investment of up to $5 million that will allow manufacturing workers in southern Ontario to benefit from advanced skills training, thanks to a Government of Canada contribution to the Yves Landry Foundation.

"Our government is committed to supporting the growth and stability of the manufacturing sector by investing in one of its most vital resources: its people," said MP Shipley. "This investment will provide the specialized skills training that workers need, which will help manufacturers improve productivity and tap into new markets at home and abroad."

The contribution through FedDev Ontario's Prosperity Initiative will allow the Yves Landry Foundation to expand its Achieving Innovation and Manufacturing Excellence (AIME) Global program to meet the needs of exporting and export-ready manufacturers in southern Ontario. The training offered by the Yves Landry Foundation is designed to upgrade the skills of people working for small and medium-sized manufacturing companies, and help manufacturers find creative and innovative solutions to improve their productivity and diversify their products.

This contribution is part of a larger investment by the Government of Canada to support manufacturing skills development across the province. Today, FedNor announced an investment of up to $2 million for the AIME North initiative that will be delivered by the Yves Landry Foundation in northern Ontario.

"We are delighted to be working with the Government of Canada on this important partnership," said Gene Stodolak, Chair of the Yves Landry Foundation. "Thanks to this support, we will continue to foster training and innovation opportunities within the manufacturing sector."

For more information on the AIME Global Program and Prosperity Initiative, please see the backgrounder. Details on AIME North and the Northern Ontario Development Program can be found on FedNor's website: http://ic.gc.ca/FedNor.

Created in 2009, FedDev Ontario supports the southern Ontario economy by building on the region's strengths and creating opportunities for jobs and economic growth. The Agency has launched a number of initiatives to create a Southern Ontario Advantage and place the region in a strong position to compete in the global economy. These initiatives are designed to encourage partnerships and support projects that help the region's businesses and communities become more competitive, innovative and diversified. To learn more, please visit www.feddevontario.gc.ca or call 1-866-593-5505.

Backgrounder

Yves Landry Foundation - Achieving Innovation and Manufacturing Excellence (AIME) Global Program

Through the Prosperity Initiative, FedDev Ontario is providing the Yves Landry Foundation with up to $5 million to deliver its Achieving Innovation and Manufacturing Excellence (AIME) Global program. This program is designed to offer customized training to manufacturing workers, which will help manufacturers to be more innovative and competitive in the global marketplace.

This program will provide funding to southern Ontario manufacturers with an export focus that are looking to upgrade the skills of employees on the following:

• using new or more advanced software;
• implementing a new process; or
• investigating new materials or processes and how to use them in the workplace.
  

The AIME Global program contributes up to 50 percent of eligible project costs to a maximum of $50,000 per business.

Eligibility requirements and further details on the Yves Landry Foundation's AIME Global Program can be found on: www.yveslandryfoundation.com

Prosperity Initiative

FedDev Ontario's Prosperity Initiative is designed to encourage businesses, not-for-profit organizations and post-secondary institutions in southern Ontario to undertake projects that will result in a more productive, diversified and competitive economy.

Funding is available for projects that:

• enhance productivity by accelerating the adoption of new technologies, processes and skills that enhance the region's businesses and sectors;
  
• diversify the regional economy by increasing the number of new industries or opportunities with the potential to have long-term impacts on regional economic diversity; and
  
• build a competitive advantage in the region by creating or expanding economic clusters and enhancing their global competitiveness.
  

Applications for funding are being accepted and assessed on an ongoing basis. For more information, please refer to the Program Guidelines available on the FedDev Ontario website at www.feddevontario.gc.ca.