KITCHENER, Ontario – The Wood Manufacturing Cluster of Ontario (WMCO) was awarded a nearly $2.9 million grant from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) to support digital initiatives by wood products firms operating in the region.

The announcement was made by Waterloo MP Bardish Chagger at the WMCO’s Quarterly Networking Event held Oct. 4 in Kitchener. 

The WMCO, an industry-led cluster that supports small and medium enterprises (SMEs) across southern Ontario, will provide seed funding for up to 50 eligible wood products companies undergoing digital adoption projects. Eligible projects include those involving investments in digital technologies to improve supply chains and to increase Internet-of-Things capabilities. 

According to FedDev Ontario, the funding will help create 50 jobs and commercialize 50 new products, services, and processes. The WMCO will prioritize SMEs in rural and Indigenous communities through targeted outreach activities.

“Today’s investment is supporting local advanced wood manufacturing SMEs right here in the Waterloo region and across Canada to scale-up and modernize their processes for a strong future,” Chagger said. “The forest industry is a vital contributor to economic growth and the Government of Canada is committed to investing in our manufacturers so they can create good jobs, grow their companies, and thrive for years to come.”

This project demonstrates the importance of industry-led clusters to deliver results for small- and medium-sized wood manufacturing companies, and government partners alike,” said Mike Baker, CEO of the WMCO. “SMEs who do not have easy access to support for digital transformation can work with the cluster to achieve global competitiveness through data integration and Industry 4.0 investments. The cluster provides an environment for companies to learn from each other’s projects and leverage the synergies to boost global competitiveness. WMCO is grateful to FedDev Ontario for this generous support.” 

Ontario is home to the largest concentration of advanced wood manufacturing in Canada. There are more than 3,000 companies that employ 35,000 workers. Their work contributes more than $7 billion in revenue each year. 

Meet with WMCO representatives at WMS 2023
The WMCO is a strategic partner of the Woodworking Machinery & Supply Conference & Expo. In addition to organizing six timely business sessions for the free WMS Live conference program, WMCO will exhibit. Professional woodworkers and industry suppliers can learn more about the WMCO’s activities and membership benefits at booth #1327.

Learn more at wmco.ca.