GE plant getting $26.5 M
Calling it “the next generation of manufacturing,” Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne announced a $26.5-million Jobs and Prosperity Fund grant for General Electric’s planned factory on Silverthorn Street in Welland.
Through the grant, the GE location, off of Highway 140, will be able to create 220 jobs and have a positive impact on the economy.
“This is an exciting, exciting day for Welland, for the Niagara Region and for Ontario,” she said. “In this day and age, a global company like GE can choose to invest anywhere.”
Elyse Allan, president and chief executive officer of GE Canada, said this factory is the country’s first “brilliant factory.”
“Several years ago, GE announced a challenging and exciting ambition to shift from a traditional industrial company to a company that really embraces what’s happening in the world around digital technology,” she said.
Not only will the factory be using the latest technologies to create reciprocating gas engines, diesel engines and other GE products, it will also be operating differently from other factories. Heiner Markhoff, president of GE Distributed Power, said the factory will be using the leading manufacturing practices and tools. In addition to that, it will be able to operate off the grid.
“The plant in Welland will not only have to be relying on the grid, but on peak periods will be off the grid.”
He said during off-grid periods, three GE engines will be humming in the background.
Like Wynne, Markhoff was at the groundbreaking ceremony to do more than just speak.
“At this brilliant factory here in Welland, we’re planning to invest $165 million US dollars,” he said.
Welland Mayor Frank Campion said the amount of money being invested into this facility is great. Both the jobs created and the economic impact are “extremely substantial” to the city and Niagara, he said. The local economy especially will be benefiting from the factory during the building stages.
“Certainly there’s going to be a big impact on local business as the project comes on site and starts to do their construction,” Campion said, noting some of the investment money will filter into the economy.
When he addressed the crowd, he said it was “a fantastic day to be mayor of Welland.”
Several years ago, GE announced a challenging and exciting ambition to shift from a traditional industrial company to a company that really embraces what’s happening in the world around digital technology,” Elyse Allan, president and chief executive officer of GE Canada
During his time at the podium, Campion was quick to point out the joint efforts it took to make this happen, something that wasn’t missed by the other speakers either.
“The whole city and the region have shown great teamwork and tremendous support for us being here,” Allan said.
“It is that combination of the technology, the people, the collaboration and the partnerships that really make the secret sauce that will make this such a wonderful, globally competitive, long-lived facility.”
The initial announcement for the plant came back in June. The Welland location was chosen for its proximity to the border and Allan added on Friday there is a lot of opportunity for expansion.
Regional Chairman Alan Caslin said doing business in Niagara makes sense. He said the region is the first foreign trade point zone and has a lot to offer.
The GE actory is set to open in 2018.
Also in attendance for the groundbreaking were GE vice chairman John Rice, International Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland, Niagara Centre MPP Vance Badawey, Welland MPP Cindy Forster, Port Colborne Mayor John Maloney and Pelham Mayor Dave Augustyn.