$3M in government funds will add 178 jobs to Windsor-Essex

When he was 10 years old, William Wu sold newspapers outside the Windsor-Detroit tunnel to help support his family after they immigrated from China in 1963.

More than 50 years later, his company StratusPlastics International is employing dozens in Windsor-Essex and was one of 10 businesses to benefit from aprovincial government fund.

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Ontario's Minister of Education, Mitzie Hunter, stopped at the moulding and parts company on Kew Drive to announce more than $3 million in financial support for area businesses creating 178 new jobs and helping retain 384 others.

"Today is great," said Wu, whose business currently employs 30 people. With$121,100 from the Southwestern Ontario Development Fund, he hopes to add 20 more.

"Ontario is committed to forging partnerships that create good jobs and strengthen our economy," said Hunter."We are pleased to support these innovative companies in their business growth plan, which will bring high-skilled jobs to the Windsor-Essex region and help the province stay competitive."

Wu's son, Colby, will one day take over Stratus, and said the funds helped the company add robotics to their machinery and advanced material loading systems.

"It helped us grow this company and without it we would never be where we are today," he explained."Without this we wouldn'tbe able to compete."

For a family that was "really poor" when they came to Canada, Colby said the government support has helped the Wus build a business that supports the community and local economy.

"Canada is a perfect place for multiculturalism and for people to grow and thrive and become successful," he said.

Businesses benefiting from the Southwestern Ontario Development Fund:

• Greco Aluminum Railings- $173,500
• Jesse Garant Metrology Center- $162,370
• Proto Manufacturing- $224,200
• Ramstar Carbide Tool-$312,644
• Saturn Tool & Die-$186,100
• Select Tool-$181,152
• Stratus Plastics International- $121,100
• Superior Tool and Mold- $555,300
• Technical Molding Management Systems- $110,700
• Windsor Mold- $1 million