CHATHAM — St. Clair College held an official ceremony today to kick off two major expansion projects. Dave Van Kesteren, MP for Chatham-Kent; Dr. John Strasser, President of St. Clair College; and Randy R. Hope, Mayor of the Township of Chatham-Kent, broke ground at the future home of a new academic and wellness facility at the Thames campus. Work is also underway to build a newsplex and communication centre at the Windsor Downtown campus.

The Government of Canada is providing nearly $13 million to these projects through the Community Adjustment Fund (CAF) in southern Ontario.

“Our government is proud to partner with St. Clair College on these projects, which are stimulating the local economies in Chatham and Windsor by creating jobs,” said MP Van Kesteren. “We are pleased to support these types of projects in southern Ontario communities to help them return to a cycle of prosperity and growth.”

“Both campuses are major economic forces in their communities,” said President Strasser. “Thanks to this partnership with the Government of Canada, St. College will remain strong in its mandate to meet local training and educational needs.”

“Chatham-Kent values and appreciates the commitment and support of the federal government as it continues on its path of diversification and revitalization,” said Mayor Hope. “These projects will further stimulate our economy and improve our critical and much needed infrastructure.”

An investment of nearly $102 million in economic stimulus has been committed to date for communities throughout southern Ontario under the Community Adjustment Fund (CAF), which supports projects in and around resource-based and manufacturing communities that depend on a single industry. CAF is investing in projects that create immediate job opportunities for communities, with a focus not only on economic development, but also innovation and diversification.