A weekly report prepared by the staff of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA). If you require further information, regarding this report, call the Elora Resource Centre at 519-846-0941. Office hours: 8:30am to 4:30pm. For technical information, call the Agricultural Information Contact Centre at 1-877-424-1300 or visit the OMAFRA website: www.ontario.ca/omafra.
GROWING FORWARD 2
Ontario Craft Brewery ramps up production with Growing Forward 2 funding.
Time is always in short supply when you run a business.
Brent Davies is the vice president and co-owner of Wellington Brewery, so finding the time to look into funding opportunities just never seems to rise to the top of his priority pile.
“When you are a small company, and trying to do everything, you just don’t have the manpower to investigate funding options,” Davies said. “But after successfully accessing three cost-sharing projects through Growing Forward 2, I would encourage other small business to find the time.”
Wellington Brewery is Canada’s oldest independently owned craft brewery. Based in Guelph for the past 30 years, the company employs 45 full-time and 17 part-time staff.
“We have grown slowly over the years, on purpose. We want to grow within our means and stay true to supporting our local community with our core business in Guelph and the Kitchener-Waterloo area.”
Davies first heard about Growing Forward 2 funding through other members of Ontario Craft Breweries who had accessed funds.
After learning a little more about the program, Wellington Brewery decided to work with a business advisor – who had successfully worked with other breweries to access funding – to help them through the Growing Forward 2 application process.
Wellington Brewery has had three projects approved through the fund. In 2014 they increased production capacity with new equipment and tanks.
In 2015, they put in a new canning line that boosted the brewery’s capacity from 24 cans per minute to 180 cans per minute.
Their third project, with funding recently approved, will add a new centrifuge providing both productivity and environmental benefits to their line. They’ll be able to further increase capacity, produce less overall wastewater, increase production yield from each batch of beer, and improve the quality of remaining wastewater.
The new equipment will also give Wellington’s brewers more opportunities for experimenting with creative new ideas.
“We have focused so far on the production side with funding,” says Davies. “We’re now looking at venturing into other areas of the business, like marketing, that are also available through Growing Forward 2.”
Davies’ advice to other small business that could benefit from cost-share funding: Don’t wait.
“Look at the Growing Forward 2 Program Guide book. And if you don’t have the time yourself, it does pay to get outside help to get it done.”
“It’s a very well run program that has helped us make a big different to our productivity,” says Brent. “And when we weren’t successful with an application, we received very helpful feedback that helped us out the next time.”
COMING EVENTS
Mar. 15 – Grain Drying and Storage Workshops at Craigowan Golf Course 595838 Hwy 59 N, Woodstock. Spaces are limited. To register, please call University of Guelph, Ridgetown Campus Ag Business Centre 1-866-222-9682.
Mar. 21 to 23 – Progressive Dairy Operators, International Plaza Hotel and Conference Centre, Toronto. For more information and registration, please visit website http://bit.ly/1LIbA8F or call 519-515-9956.
Mar. 23 – 2016 Value of Biogas Conference, Woodbine Convention Centre, Toronto. For more information, please visit www.biogasassociation.ca/VOB.
