Sleeman Awarded $422k in SWODF Funding for Business Expansion

Sleeman Breweries Ltd. is Canada’s third-largest brewery. With facilities in Guelph, Ontario, Sleeman brews over 20 different brands year-round, including Sleeman, Sapporo, Unibroue, Okanagan Spring, and Pabst Blue Ribbon. The brewery creates premium lagers and ales that are incredibly popular in Canada and are also sold internationally.

Recently, Sleeman Breweries Ltd. was awarded $422k in Ontario government grants to incorporate advanced technologies and improve its facility’s productivity.

With support through the Southwestern Ontario Development Fund (SWODF), Sleeman Breweries will invest over $6 million into a new production-based project. Manufacturing grants will help the company expand packaging capabilities, upgrade equipment, and purchase new beer tanks. These large investments will support over 425 jobs in Guelph, Ontario.

Over $420k in Business Expansion Funding for Sleeman Breweries Ltd.

Sleeman Breweries Ltd. is Ontario’s original craft brewery. Since being founded in 1834, it’s had an incredible history of tradition and growth within the province. Despite being forced to shut down in 1933 due to prohibition, the company was resurrected over 50 years later to emerge as one of Canada’s premier beer brands.

One of Sleeman’s most recent growth projects focuses on its Guelph, Ontario production facility. The company plans to invest over $6 million into its operations to become more productive and profitable; this involves introducing new state-of-the-art technologies that enable the production of new beers in a variety of consumer-friendly formats.

Over $420k in Ontario government funding has been awarded in support of Sleeman Breweries Ltd.’s expansion project.

By modernizing its production equipment and the facility, Sleeman’s Guelph brewery will be able to produce specific brands that are currently imported from the United States. It will also be able to independently offer its products in new formats, such as 710ml aluminum cans, where it previously needed an external packager’s support.

Sleeman expects the project to create 15 new jobs and support the long-term retention of another 412 positions.

About the Southwestern Ontario Development Fund

The Southwestern Ontario Development Fund (SWODF) is an Ontario government funding program that supports companies making large-scale capital investments in innovative competitiveness-boosting technologies and facilities. By offsetting a portion of strategic project costs, businesses can be more responsive and capitalize on emerging market opportunities.

SWODF supports Ontario-based companies with up to 10-15% of eligible project costs to a maximum of $5 million in Ontario government grants and loans.

To apply for SWODF funding, companies must develop a comprehensive application package and submit it prior to incurring project-related expenses. Businesses can apply for the program year-round. Those interested in applying for funding can contact Mentor Works to discuss their project’s eligibility and explore how to optimize the funding application process.

Additional Resources for Manufacturing Expansion Projects

Expanding manufacturing facilities and integrating new equipment takes significant planning and resources. If your company has established the need to expand production but has not decided how to best achieve this growth, consider downloading the Key Tips: Expanding Production in Canada slide deck. It reviews top methods of expanding production, and advises what aspects to consider or avoid during the project.

Download the Key Tips: Expanding Production in Canada slide deck to evaluate the ways manufacturers can open new facilities and scale output.

 

Posted: April 19, 2018 by Mitra Zaimi. Updated: April 19, 2018 by Mitra Zaimi.