News
Airbus Helicopters Canada gets funding boost
March 23, 2015 By Airbus Helicopters
March 23, 2015, Fort Erie, Ont. - New strategic partnerships announced this week have leveraged almost $44 million in new investments and helped to create or retain over 1,400 jobs in south-western Ontario.
The latest investment under the Southwestern Ontario Development Fund
is with Airbus Helicopters Canada in Fort Erie. Funding will support
the company’s new production line, equipment and facility upgrades, and
employee training required for a contract producing composite engine
cowlings for the EC225 helicopter, which is sold worldwide.
“Airbus Helicopters is a mainstay of our Niagara region manufacturing
community and I congratulate the company and its workers on this latest
good news. I’m very proud of our government’s comprehensive approach to
build up a strong and diversified regional economy,” said Jim Bradley,
MPP for St Catharines. “Today’s investment, along with this week’s
announcement of support for Niagara College’s new Advanced Manufacturing
Innovation Centre, demonstrates what can be accomplished when the
industrial, educational and government sectors work as collaborative
partners.”
Ontario is providing a grant of 10 per cent towards the Airbus
Helicopters Canada project, which has a total value of approximately
$4.5 million and is expected to create 40 new jobs while retaining 230
existing positions.
“Today’s announcement builds on the innovation and expertise of our
team at the Fort Erie facility, which is recognized as a Centre of
Excellence for composite component manufacturing throughout Airbus
Helicopters,” said Romain Trapp, President and CEO, Airbus Helicopters
Canada. “This new program and investment will strengthen our facility’s
position, both as a key player in the global aerospace supply chain, and
as a major employer in the Niagara region.”
The company announced last year that, following a competitive
process, it had secured the contract from its home base in France
because of Ontario’s highly skilled manufacturing workforce.
Airbus Helicopters Canada’s Fort Erie facility has been operating for
over 30 years and conducts the engineering and manufacturing of
helicopter components. In addition, the facility sells helicopters and
related services such as repair and overhaul, flight testing, and
training services.
Other projects announced this week include support for two
London-based manufacturing companies, Artisan Metal Finishing and Attica
Manufacturing. Ontario also announced partnerships with Aalbers Tool
& Mold in Oldcastle, Wolf Steel in Barrie and DC Foods in Waterloo.
Together, the Southwestern Ontario Development Fund and the Eastern
Ontario Development Fund have attracted more than $1.3 billion in
investment and helped to create and retain more than 31,000 jobs in
Ontario communities.
