Rae announces Funding for Local Agri-business

[Mitchell, ON] – Today, Matthew Rae, MPP for Perth-Wellington announced a $500,000 provincial grant to fund the expansion of Van Der Burgt Grains (V.D.B. Grains). This funding will supplement the company’s total investment of $7,212,015 to construct a storage facility and specialized sensing equipment to increase capacity, differentiate products, and access new markets.

“This is another example of our provincial government investing in our agricultural sector and rural communities,” MPP Rae said. “Our local agri-businesses are important economic drivers locally, and across the province. Ontario’s agri-food sector contributes $51 Billion annually to our provincial economy, up $3 Billion since 2018.”

Since their establishment in 2007, V.D.B. Grains has evolved and expanded to meet the needs of Ontario’s growing agricultural sector. This crucial investment will support VDB Grain’s construction of a new grain storage facility, as well as the installation of solar panels and radar sensing equipment. The project will allow V.D.B. Grain to increase their volumes and expand their market throughout Ontario, creating 6 new jobs in Perth County.

This investment is being made through the province’s Southwestern Ontario Development Fund.

“We are grateful to the province for supporting this project that has allowed us to continue to expand and meet the needs of farmers across our region,” said Steve Feeney, CFO of V.D.B. Grains. “This project has allowed us to provide grain producers with access to diversified global grain markets and ensured that we remain resilient in the face of trade and economic uncertainty.”

“Our government is proud to support local manufacturing across the province and create good-paying jobs in rural communities,” said Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. “We thank V.B.D. grains for their commitment to Perth County and for strengthening Ontario’s agricultural manufacturing sector”.

Ontario is investing $180 million through its Regional Development Program to help manufacturers across the province grow while supporting distinct regional priorities. To date, Ontario has supported more than 135 projects through the program, leveraging more than $1.9 billion in new investments and helping to create over 3,500 jobs.