Ontario Driving Economic Growth in Southwestern Ontario
Press Release
November 08, 2024
LONDON – The Ontario government is providing TechAlliance of Southwestern Ontario with up to $115,900 in funding through the latest intake of the Rural Economic Development (RED) Program to launch the Rural GROW Accelerator. The Rural GROW Accelerator is a 12-week program that will help support businesses in rural communities to take the next step from being a start-up to a scale-up operation in communities including St. Thomas, Woodstock, Sarnia, Strathroy and other adjacent towns.
“Our government values rural communities throughout the province, and this program provides municipalities, Indigenous communities, and not-for-profits with the funding they need for projects that contribute to local economic vitality,” said Lisa Thompson, Minister of Rural Affairs. “The RED program is another example of how our government is ensuring small towns and communities across Ontario continue to share in the province’s growth and economic prosperity.”
Participating in the Rural GROW Accelerator gives local businesses a chance to connect with industry experts and other like-minded founders to gain insights on sales, marketing, finance, and intellectual property, to create their business roadmap.
“Our government recognizes the need to prepare rural Ontario for expansion through the RED program,” said Steve Pinsonneault, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Rural Affairs. “We are committed to supporting projects that continue to benefit rural communities. The projects we are investing in will incorporate the right tools necessary to help build the best possible future for the entire province.”
Through the RED program, the Ontario government is investing more than $5.7 million in 85 projects that are helping create jobs and boost economic development in rural communities across the province. The RED program provides cost-share funding support towards activities that create strong rural communities. Funding provided through the recent intake of the program is supporting projects that diversify and grow local economies, build community capacity and address barriers to economic development and labour force challenges.
Quick Facts
- The latest intake of the RED program closed on February 21, 2024.
- The provincial investment of $115,900 represents 33 per cent of the total RED project value and underscores the importance of collaboration to realize local economic development in Ontario’s small towns and rural communities.
- Since 2019, the RED program has committed more than $27.4 million to fund 473 projects that are helping to attract investment, create jobs, and boost economic development in rural communities across the province.
Additional Resources
Rural Economic Development Program
Media Contacts
Morgan Mattern
Minister’s Office
Morgan.Mattern@ontario.ca
Meaghan Evans
Communications Branch
OMAFRA.media@ontario.ca
519-826-3145
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