Happy Canadians - Gold Medals and More Jobs! Long-Term Growth Plan for Windsor Ford Plant

TORONTO--Ontario, Canada is supporting the next phase of the transformation of the Ford Essex engine plant in Windsor, which is expected to create and retain up to 757 new jobs over five years.

“By being at the table as a proactive partner with Ford, we’ve been able to bring the Essex engine plant back to life and transform it into a leading-edge facility with a significant role in the company’s long-term engine production and R&D plans”

The initiative, called Project Renaissance, combines industry-leading flexible manufacturing with the establishment of a North American Centre for Diesel and Advanced Powertrain Technology, Research and Innovation. The province is contributing up to $81.2 million towards the project, building on a $17 million provincial investment announced in March 2008 that helped re-open the shuttered plant.

The terms of the provincial support agreement provides Ford with an opportunity to increase its investment in the project, up to $736.4 million.

The province’s strategic investments with the auto sector, dating back to 2004, have helped sustain Ontario’s industry footprint through recent restructuring. A combination of modern, flexible manufacturing facilities and strong R&D capabilities will help secure the sector’s long-term future in the province.

“By being at the table as a proactive partner with Ford, we’ve been able to bring the Essex engine plant back to life and transform it into a leading-edge facility with a significant role in the company’s long-term engine production and R&D plans,” said Sandra Pupatello, Minister of Economic Development and Trade.

"To be truly competitive at a world-class level we have to work together – we have to build partnerships between business, labour and government. And it's that spirit of collaboration combined with a willingness to innovate that has breathed new life into the operations at the Essex Engine Plant,” said Jim Tetreault, vice president, North American Manufacturing, Ford Motor Company.

QUICK FACTS

• The project is being supported under the Next Generation of Jobs Fund, in addition to funds from the Ontario Automotive Investment Strategy.
• The plant will produce a fuel-efficient 5.0L V8 engine that will be used in the legendary Ford Mustang, one of Ford’s most successful vehicles.
• To date, Ford has announced investment plans of $590 million to support the project
• Ford’s new R&D centre will work closely with University of Windsor’s forthcoming Centre for Engineering Innovation (which is being supported by a combined $80 million in provincial and federal funding), in addition to other universities and private sector partners.
• Ontario’s auto assembly and parts companies directly employ more than 87,000 people with thousands more spin-off jobs in communities across Ontario.