Ontario's Ministry Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) and Excellence in Manufacturing Consortium (EMC) are helping Food Sector Manufacturers and Processors across Ontario to enhance their global competitiveness, protect jobs and engage leading-edge professional peer-to-peer knowledge networks, through advanced manufacturing training, next generation Web 2.0 networks and labour-pool building initiatives designed specifically for this important sector.

EMC's ‘Food Sector Manufacturing Network' Initiative provides peer-to-peer consortium resources, best practices and competitiveness strategies for Ontario's food sector manufacturers and processors.

Announced today by EMC President & GM Al Diggins and OMAFRA Parliamentary Asssistant Lou Rinaldi, this initiative is a 3-year, $4.09 million EMC project, this initiative is open to ALL SMALL-TOWN & RURAL ONTARIO Food Sector organizations - including food and beverage processors and all related food sector supply chain manufacturers.

The province is providing $1,939,600 towards the Excellence in Manufacturing Consortium's Food Sector Manufacturing Network project, which will help increase the sector's global competitiveness through peer-to-peer networks, advanced skills training, internship opportunities and the development of an accessible online network.  The project has the potential to help retain jobs in over 200 food sector manufacturing and processing companies that represent over 15,000 employees. The companies will also have the opportunity to provide up to 300 internship positions.

This initiative is supported by EMC's food sector members and project partners: City of Brockville, Municipality of Chatham-Kent, County of Lennox and Addington and City of Woodstock.

"Bringing together a core group of 200 food sector manufacturers and processors, this project will develop an advanced Food Sector Network that will benefit all Ontario food sector stakeholders," said Al Diggins, Excellence in Manufacturing Consortium President and General Manager. "By engaging this dedicated peer-to-peer knowledge network, Ontario's food sector companies will further enhance their global competitiveness, enterprise-wide capabilities and access to world-class knowledge network resources."

EMC ‘Food Sector Manufacturing Network' Deliverables:

• Deploy EMC Food Sector Manufacturing Network consortium with professionally facilitated, sector specific Strategic Interest Groups (SIG's).
• Deploy Online Food Sector Peer-to-Peer Knowledge Networks utilizing next generation Web 2.0 technologies, to access collaborative resources, online forums, blogging and networking, and continuous improvement contacts, etc.
• Provide Food Sector Training Rebate $: 
  Provide Ontario Sector Manufacturers & Processors with significant cost rebates for onsite Lean & Continuous Improvement / Advanced manufacturing training, including coaching and implementation costs - with a simplified admin/application process.
• Provide Food Sector Internship Rebate $:
  $500 per new hire payable after 3rd month of employment. Simplified admin process for claiming funds.
• Full Access to All EMC Member Resources and Value-Added Services:
  In 2008, a 100 employee member received over $243,000 in ROI (cash in their pocket) through full participation in EMC programs, plus the economic gains made from the continuous improvement efforts engaged through EMC!

EMC has simplified the application process for Ontario Food Sector companies. It only takes a phone call or e-mail to get started. This is a terrific opportunity for your organization to access the tremendous resources delivered through EMC's consortium model and the newly launched ‘Food Sector Manufacturing Network' Initiative.

For more on this initiative information, please contact Bren McKeachnie (EMC Sr. Community Development Manager):
Phone:  866-323-4362 x228
Cell:  519-372-6009
E-Mail:  bmckeachnie@emccanada.org