Ontario Premier Doug Ford addresses the crowd during Tuesday’s announcement of London’s upcoming poultry facility.
Maple Leaf Foods has announced plans to invest $660-million into a poultry facility that will bring more than 1,400 jobs to London.
An announcement on Tuesday saw Ontario Premier Doug Ford praise the investment, which will receive partial funding from the provincial and federal government.
“It’s not only the largest investment in the poultry industry,” said Ford.
“But the largest investment in food processing ever in Canada.”
At the Canadian Centre for Product Validation, waiting for Premier Doug Ford to announce a $660-million poultry facility being constructed in London next spring #LdnOnt pic.twitter.com/17HtU4Ao6V
— XFM News (@XFMNews) November 27, 2018
The mulit-million dollar investment landed in London with the help of the London Economic Development Corporation (LEDC).
LEDC President Kapil Lakhotia says the corporation intervened when Maple Leaf Foods surveyed potential sites across Ontario for the upcoming facility.
“For the last three years, we’ve been working with them to customize a site in London that meets their requirements,” said Lakhotia, adding that infrastructure, humane transportation for poultry and access to Maple Leaf Foods’ market were all essential for the investment.
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- An architectural rendering of the upcoming poultry facility. (Maple Leaf Foods Inc.)
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- An aerial view of the upcoming poultry facility. (Maple Leaf Foods Inc.)
The facility will sit at Wilton Grove Road and Highbury Avenue, just south of Highway 401.
With such a massive job source on the southeast outskirts of London, mayor-elect Ed Holder hopes to have transit sorted out once the facility opens in three years time.
“We’ve got to get workers to and from places like Maple Leaf and employers along Veterans Memorial Parkway… we think that’s a great discussion we’re going to have with London Transit on this. ” said Holder.
“We know they’re going to be receptive.”
Construction alone is expected to generate 300 jobs, with a further 1,400 jobs indirect jobs being birthed in the supplies and services sector.
Maple Leaf Foods says the facility will create 1,450 full-time and part-time positions.
Construction is set to begin in spring, with the facility slated to be up and running by 2021.
