MPP Sam Oosterhoff made the announcement at Vineland Station late last month. Photo Credit: Niagara Falls Innovation Hub/X.
The Niagara Falls Innovation Hub is getting nearly $98,000 from the province to support its Niagara Innovation Cluster Helping Entrepreneurs Project.
Niagara West MPP Sam Oosterhoff, who is also the Associate Minister of Energy-Intensive Industries, made the announcement in Vineland Station on Sept. 27.
The Hub, as the program is known by some, is a mentorship program that brings together industry leaders and entrepreneurs to collaborate and promote best practices and innovation, with a focus on rural economic development across the Niagara region.
The Niagara Falls Innovation Hub was founded in 2016. It is home to over 100 businesses that have impacted Niagara’s economy through growth, innovation and job creation, according to the organization’s website.
The facility itself is located at 4551 Zimmerman Avenue in Niagara Falls.
In his announcement, Oosterhoff committed nearly $98,000 to fund the Niagara Falls Innovation Fund through the province’s Rural Economic Development Program.
“The Niagara Falls Innovation Hub has been an invaluable resource for local entrepreneurs and business leaders,” said Oosterhoff. “This investment by our government through the Rural Economic Development Program will help create jobs and boost economic growth in rural communities right across Niagara.”
Oosterhoff was joined at the announcement by Dan Bordenave, the Chief Executive Officer of the Niagara Falls Innovation Hub.
“We are profoundly grateful to the province for their generous investment in the Niagara Innovation Cluster Helping Entrepreneurs Project of the Niagara Falls Innovation Hub,” said Bordenave. “This initiative will offer crucial support to Niagara’s key sectors – agriculture, healthcare/life sciences, manufacturing and tourism.”
“Our mission is to provide businesses in these sectors with specialized programming, coaching and events that will foster growth and innovation. Achieving this goal would not be possible without the enthusiastic support from the City of Niagara Falls and Niagara Region’s Economic Development Department.”
Part of the Niagara Falls Innovation Hub’s mission is to offer business owners advice at every stage of the business development journey, with a hands-on and tailored approach.
The organization also offers camps for kids, investor readiness programs, a business basics program, a program spotlighting female entrepreneurs, a startup program for new immigrants and more.
Those who are interested in learning more about the Niagara Falls Innovation Hub can go to its website HERE.
Jay Goldberg is the Ontario Director at the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. He previously served as a policy fellow at the Munk School of Public Policy and Global Affairs. Jay holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Toronto.
