NEWS RELEASE
PERTH WELLINGTON MPP MATTHEW RAW
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Today, Matthew Rae, MPP for Perth-Wellington announced two local businesses would receive a total of $201,312 in funding through the Government of Ontario and Canada’s Dairy Processors Modernization Initiative. This program provides cost-shared funding to dairy processors to help improve efficiency, capacity, and food safety through their acquisition of modern ways of processing milk products.
“This is a great program for our local dairy processors,” MPP Rae said. “This is just one of the many ways our provincial government continues to support Ontario businesses. Local processors will be able to increase productivity, quality, and safety because of this funding.”
The Dairy Processing Modernization Initiative is still accepting applications from cow, goat, sheep and water buffalo milk processors until the program is fully subscribed. The initiative provides up to $200,000 in cost-shared funding to each successful applicant to help dairy processing businesses increase production efficiency and food safety in their facilities. Funding can be used to help cover the cost of new or refurbished equipment, training and more. The governments of Ontario and Canada are investing up to $8 million in the initiative through the Sustainable Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP).
“Ontario’s dairy processors have shown remarkable growth over the last several years and continue to produce safe, high-quality dairy products for domestic and international consumers,” said Rob Flack, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness. “The success of the Dairy Processing Modernization Initiative underscores the health and vitality of Ontario’s growing dairy industry, and its ability to rapidly seize opportunities to modernize and increase processing capacity and food safety.”
The Sustainable CAP is a five-year, $3.5-billion investment by federal, provincial and territorial governments to strengthen competitiveness, innovation, and resiliency of Canada’s agriculture, agri‐food, and agri‐based products sector. This includes $1 billion in federal programs and activities and a $2.5-billion commitment cost-shared 60% federally and 40% provincially/territorially for programs designed and delivered by provinces and territories.
Funding as provided by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agri-business:
River's Edge Goat Dairy - $1,312.87
Stonetown Cheese - $200,000
Total - $201,312.87
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