It’s no secret that the wood products industry in Canada has lost market share to European and Far East manufacturers.
Adam Hofmann, president of Bluewater Wood Alliance wants some of the market share back.
Hoffman was before the Agriculture, Tourism and Planning Land Division Committee of Bruce county last week — looking for some start-up seed money.
Hofmann says the alliance will create a cluster of value-added wood manufacturers, primarily from Bruce and Grey counties to increase the competitiveness of the wood products manufacturing industry in Southwestern Ontario and beyond.
The concept is to have like-minded companies in the same field band together for the purpose of joint projects in skills development, technology transfer, export development and experience exchanges to increase the competitiveness of the industry in the global marketplace.
Hofmann says they’re asking for a grant of just over three thousand dollars from Bruce and Grey counties, plus municipalities where the wood industry has flourished in the past.
The money will help set up the not-for-profit corporation in Ontario that will facilitate some of the objectives of the group.
The matter was referred to the county’s budget session coming up March 24th.
Chair of the county committee, Brockton Mayor Dave Inglis thinks the idea is a great opportunity.
He says Brockton is working on such a program in conjunction with the Clean Water Centre.
Inglis says they’re trying to attract industries and business that would fit in with the water centre.
He says they already have the facility which can be used for research and training and joining up with like-mind companies would be a great fit.
Members who make up the Bluewater Wood Alliance include furniture dealers and wood products manufacturers in Walkerton, Hanover, Durham, Chesley and Shallow Lake.
