KENORA – “Our government is creating jobs and fighting for Ontario workers by investing in local businesses like Sweet and Lake of the Woods Brewing Company, who are looking to hire, matching them with workers who seek opportunity,” stated Minister Greg Rickford the Kenora Rainy River MPP.
“Investments that help take successful businesses like Sweet and Lake of the Woods Brewing Company to the next level create jobs and let people know that Kenora – and all of Northern Ontario – is ‘Open for Business’ which also means ‘Open for Jobs’,” continued Minister Rickford.
“Lake of the Woods Brewing Company has had an eye focused on growth and expansion since day one, and with the continued support of the Ontario government, we are building a new LEED-certified manufacturing facility in Kenora – vastly increasing our brewing capacity,” said Taras Manzie, President and CEO, Lake of the Woods Brewing Company. “This new manufacturing plant will strengthen job creation and retention, and support regional economic development – all the while creating a space that will showcase technology and design around the very best of living in the North.”
“Ontario funding has given me the opportunity to expand my business in ways that would not have otherwise been possible,” said Alexis Pernsky, Owner and Operator, Sweet, Lake of the Woods Chocolate Shop. “I was able to purchase equipment that increased my manufacturing capacity and has allowed me to distribute throughout our region and beyond.”
Ontario’s Government for the people is protecting what matters most, stimulating economic growth and creating jobs in the City of Kenora by investing in a local microbrewery and a chocolate manufacturing company.
Greg Rickford, Minister of Energy, Northern Development and Mines, was at Lake of the Woods Brewing Company to announce the company is receiving $1 million to expand its current brewing wholesale and commercial operations by setting up an additional brewing manufacturing facility in town. The new facility will allow the company to meet the increased demand for craft beer products and explore further export opportunities. The expansion will create 19 full-time jobs.
Craft beer is a rapidly expanding industry in Ontario, employing thousands of people in direct brewery jobs and thousands more in indirect jobs in industries such as tourism, food service, agriculture, and packaging and distribution. The craft beer industry contributes approximately $1 billion towards Ontario’s economy annually.
Minister Rickford also announced Sweet, Lake of the Woods Inc. is receiving $158,923 to operate a chocolate manufacturing shop in downtown Kenora. Through its wholesale stream, the manufacturer sells to retailers looking to carry chocolate products in their stores. The business has created three full-time, two part-time and 11 seasonal jobs.
Sweet opened its doors in May 2017 and was awarded the 2017 New Business Award by the Kenora and District Chamber of Commerce. The company offers a variety of chocolate products made in-house. Products include different types of bark, chocolate-covered gummy bears and sour keys, peanut butter cups, truffles and Skoreos – chocolate-covered Oreos with Skor chunks.
