‘There are some projects that we had to put on hold, sort of indefinitely … so it has impacted us,’ Black Controls Company president says of ongoing trade war
The province has made a two-year, $180,000 investment to protect Barrie’s industry and workers being affected by U. S. tariffs.
Through Ontario’s trade-impacted communities program (TCIP), the funding will support Barrie’s export development initiative – a project dedicated to helping companies expand into new markets, strengthen their competitiveness and pursue long-term opportunities.
The announcement was made Friday morning at a Saunders Road firm.
Black Controls Company is an industrial automation company which has been designing, manufacturing and developing automated systems for seven years.
Company president Rick Black supports the year-old initiative.
“It’s a great program for helping local businesses prepare to work locally, or outside of Canada, so I think it will be great for other companies that are local to participate in that,” he said. “I think that’s good for the local community.
“We do partner with local businesses and we do work outside the country, so the more local businesses that are growing … that will create opportunities for us to work with them locally, as they’re executing programs locally,” Black added.
Black Controls, which employs 35 people, has not escaped the American tariffs put in place by U. S. President Donald Trump, however.
“The tariffs have affected us,” Black said. “A lot of our customer base is in the United States and they’ve obviously been leery of purchasing equipment with the tariffs.
“There are some projects that we had to put on hold, sort of indefinitely … so it has impacted us,” he said. “We’re just trying to establish our customer base in Canada and look to other markets as well.”
In response to the disproportionate impact of American tariffs on the local economy, the city will develop and launch a $180,000 two-year initiative, delivered by Invest Barrie, to provide local businesses with access to export training, market development and specialized expertise to help navigate the global business environment.
The $40-million TICP initiative was launched by the province a year ago to protect good-paying jobs and build resilient, self-reliant communities across Ontario.
“This investment will help ensure that local businesses are able to plan for, and adapt to, the rapidly changing market,” Barrie-Springwater-Oro-Medonte MPP Doug Downey said at this morning’s announcement. “Ensuring our communities become, and remain, more self-reliant will help create a more stable local economy.”
“(This) is one of the ways our government is ensuring businesses in Barrie and Innisfil remain resilient, innovative and ready to compete on the world stage,” said Barrie-Innisfil MPP Andrea Khanjin.
“This investment will provide local companies with valuable tools and expertise to expand their reach, strengthen their operations and create new opportunities for success both at home and abroad,” said Barrie Mayor Alex Nuttall.
The TICP was first announced as part of the province’s nearly $30-billion tariff relief and support plan.
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