Prue says county could benefit from grant program relating to business support

The County of Essex is taking aim on how to improve its support for local businesses.

County CAO Sandra Zwiers brought forth a report to get behind an initiative by  Invest Windsor-Essex that could see some much-needed grant money come to the region as part of last Wednesday night’s county council meeting.

“The initiative that is being developed by Invest Windsor-Essex on behalf of our region aims to reposition our region as a diversified and resilient manufacturing and automotive hub,” said Zwiers.

Zwiers said that the province now has a $40 million grant program available called the Trade Impacted Communities Program to help ease the impact of US Tariffs. Zwiers added that it is important for the region to think outside of the box when it comes to different avenues for the economy.

The county decided to support the initiative and establish a Memorandum of Understanding in which Essex County would provide meeting space for stakeholders meetings and communication department support when required.

Amherstburg Mayor Michael Prue applauded the move to apply for the grants and that it is timely.

“As you know around this table, the last week has been very difficult for Amherstburg and the potential closing of Diageo,” said Prue.

It was recently announced that Diageo, which bottles Crown Royal whisky was closing in February, putting as many as 200 employees out of work.

Prue said getting provincial funding could possibly prevent other companies in the area from suffering the same fate as Diageo.

“For us to be part of this is absolutely essential. I am glad to take the money and hopefully it can be put to good use at Diageo and elsewhere,” said Prue

Tecumseh Mayor Gary McNamara said there are 300 tool and die shops in his community and that about 80 per cent of them deal with the United States. 

“If we aren’t the hardest hit, we certainly are near the top in terms of unemployment,” said McNamara of the tariffs.

Last month’s unemployment rate revealed that Windsor-Essex now sits at 11.1 percent the highest in the country.

Invest Windsor-Essex, now with the support of the county, has until the end of the month to put in their grant application.

Prue says county could benefit from grant program relating to business support

By Fred Groves