The head of the agency with the task of bringing new industry and jobs to the Sarnia area says there’s the potential for billions of dollars in new investment in the local economy.
Advertisement 2
Article content
That includes 15 potential projects each worth more than $100 million, Matthew Slotwinski, interim CEO of the Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership, told Lambton County council recently.
Article content
The partnership is currently working with 67 clients “for defined projects” being considered for Lambton, he said.
“And the opportunity is massive,” Slotwinski said. “There’s currently $12.5-billion in potential investment in our project pipeline.”
At the same time there is “tremendous opportunity for local expansion” of existing industries, he said.
Those expansion projects, across the county which is home to several chemical manufacturing sites and refineries, have a potential total value “north of $100 million,” Slotwinski said.
Advertisement 3
Article content
“And Sarnia-Lambton is making the short-list as a potential site location for many of these investments,” he said.
Last year, nine companies conducted site visits in Lambton representing potential investment worth a total of $9.3 billion and 1,900 jobs, he said.
The community’s “integrated energy and chemistry cluster continues to support the lion’s share of our investment,” Slotwinski said.
In 2023, more than 40 per cent of the partnership’s industrial investment leads involved energy and chemicals, as well as sustainable chemistry and low-carbon hydrogen.
Lambton has been promoting itself as a “hub” for investment in hydrogen industries and there are opportunities in the electric vehicle and battery supply chains, Slotwinski said.
Advertisement 4
Article content
“That world seems to be changing,” Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley said during Slotwinski’s presentation. He asked how the partnership is adjusting “to a lessening of the focus on electric vehicles and vehicle batteries.”
Some companies recently announced reductions in production of electric vehicles because of weak sales.
Electric vehicle battery plants are being built in St. Thomas and Windsor, backed by billions in funding from the federal and provincial governments.
The EV supply chain is still expected to grow because of already-announced investments, Slotwinski said. “There will be, for at least the short term, a continued opportunity,” he said.
“At the same time, the drive towards net zero across all industries represents a huge opportunity for Sarnia-Lambton,” Slotwinski said.
Advertisement 5
Article content
“That may, ultimately, be a transition towards hydrogen cars and we’re already focusing on low-carbon hydrogen as a key opportunity.”
As well as seeking new large industrial investments, the partnership encourages entrepreneurs through its Small Business Enterprise Centre, he said.
The partnership received $1.5 million last year from the county, along with $535,000 in provincial and federal grants.
“We take great pride in being the lead economic development agency for the County of Lambton,” Slotwinski said.
The partnership adopted a five-year plan in 2023 that includes a new marketing slogan, “We’ve Got Chemistry,” which is expected to help the agency “tell our story in a more compelling way,” he said.
Along with continuing to develop the community’s industrial sector, the plan calls for helping the community attract the workforce it needs, as well as “better leveraging our agricultural assets in the community and supporting rural areas,” he said.
It also calls for ensuring industrial land and development sites in the community “are truly investment-ready,” Slotwinski said. “This is of critical importance.”
Article content