With the announcement of a new $5-billion electric vehicle battery plant in Windsor, Chatham-Kent officials have pointed to the area’s proximity and manufacturing experience as assets that will help attract spinoff work.
Stellantis and LG Energy Solution announced their plans March 23, which included the promise of 2,500 direct jobs once the new facility reaches full operational capacity in 2025. It’s expected the spinoff jobs in the supply chain could be four to seven times that number.
“We have some great industries in Chatham-Kent right now,” said Stuart McFadden, Chatham-Kent’s director of economic development. “I’m sure their sales departments are going to find out what it is this particular company requires and they’ll be bidding on potential new work.”
Chatham-Kent’s proximity to Windsor would give local companies ease with transporting parts back and forth, he said.
“We’re strategically located,” McFadden said. “When Windsor is successful, Chatham-Kent is successful.”
Along with the supply work, McFadden said local companies could support the construction of the facility through structural steel and design.
Daniel Josling, chair of the Chatham-Kent Chamber of Commerce, said he expects this announcement will bring new work to existing companies and attract new industries, especially with Chatham-Kent’s connection to Windsor through Highway 401.
“There is the building of the assembly line. The tool and die sector can benefit from it, which we have a strong presence in,” he said. “We have a lot of feeder plants that feed Chrysler right now and this investment should help secure those industries as well.”
Josling also noted there will be opportunities for Chatham-Kent residents to commute to Windsor for the direct jobs at the plant, as is already the case with other major facilities in the area.
However, he said the chamber’s goal is ultimately to work with its members to secure investments in Chatham-Kent.
“There is definitely an opportunity for us to help showcase existing businesses in Chatham-Kent that can help support this, as well as promote our region as a very cost-effective area for businesses,” Josling said.
During the March 23 announcement, Premier Doug Ford said “every region” of Ontario will benefit from the Stellantis and LG investment.
“Attracting this multi-billion-dollar investment will secure Ontario’s place as a North American hub for building the cars and batteries of the future,” Ford said.
“As we secure game-changing investments, we’re also connecting resources, industries and workers in Northern Ontario with the manufacturing might of southern Ontario to build up home-grown supply chains.”
Mayor Darrin Canniff called it a “huge announcement” for the municipality, adding he expects further positive trends to continue for local businesses.
“Chatham-Kent was already moving very much in the right direction as far as economic growth and the business that is stimulated significantly,” he said. “That plant is going to require a whole lot of feeder plants and a whole lot of other activity. And we’re primed to take advantage of a lot of that here in Chatham-Kent.”
Bruce McAllister, general manager of community development, who was acting as CAO on March 24, said area utilities will need enhancements to keep up with the growth.
“Obviously, it’s a big announcement for the region in general,” he said. “I would certainly anticipate in the future there will be spinoff benefits to the community in Chatham-Kent.
“A big piece of that is the demand on future infrastructure coming through as well. Talking about things like transmission and hydro capacity.”
McFadden said his department is always looking for new types of manufacturing companies to come to Chatham-Kent.
“Obviously, electric vehicles are very popular right now,” he said. “We have had some discussions with certain companies and we remain hopeful that they will choose Chatham-Kent as a place to call home.”
-With Windsor Star files