Regional Innovation Centre Location Announced in Barrie
MPP Khanjin announces Sandbox Centre as hub for Regional Innovation Centre
BARRIE– Today, Andrea Khanjin, Member of Provincial Parliament for Barrie-Innisfil, alongside her colleagues MPP Downey and MPP Saunderson, announced that the Sandbox Centre in downtown Barrie will be home to a Regional Innovation Centre (RIC). In a network that stretches across the province, this centre will help promote entrepreneurship and innovation in Barrie and the surrounding regions.
In March 2024, the Ontario Budget stated that Barrie will be the home to the 17th Regional Innovation Centre in the province. Through a $1 million provincial investment, this RIC will help local entrepreneurs launch their businesses and scale up, while creating more good-paying jobs in the region.
Regional Innovation Centres help Ontario’s entrepreneurs and innovators succeed in international markets by helping them work through the challenges of developing their ideas to make them marketable and attract talent, capital, and customers. Programming and services are offered to clients who are typically in early-stage or growing innovation and technology companies with the potential to expand and succeed on a global scale.
Regional Innovation Centres provide access points to programs and services including:
- expert advice and mentorship
- training and workshops
- market intelligence
- connections to resources, funding and partners
Sandbox Centre has been serving residents of Barrie and the surrounding regions for years. From startups and scale-ups to large enterprises, Sandbox brings together a diverse group of passionate individuals to support every stage of the business journey.
With this support, Sandbox will continue to create opportunities for innovators and entrepreneurs to thrive in Ontario.
Quotes:
“To grow our local economy, it is essential to invest in the talent we already have” said Andrea Khanjin, MPP for Barrie-Innisfil. “The Regional Innovation Centre in Barrie is going to support our current and future local businesses allowing them to flourish and providing the opportunity for people to continue to raise their families in Simcoe County for generations to come.”
“By investing in Ontario’s innovation ecosystem, our government is equipping local businesses with the tools they need to succeed. The new Barrie site will offer invaluable resources to entrepreneurs, innovators, and small businesses in the region, helping them scale up and create more good-paying jobs.”
- Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade.
“Providing supports, resources and mentorship can make all the difference for entrepreneurs and innovators” said Doug Downey, MPP for Barrie-Springwater-Oro-Medonte. “Developing ideas to attract talent, capital and customers is good for the entire Simcoe County region.”
“As our region continues to grow, welcoming new residents from across the province and country, this investment will also nurture and support new and innovative businesses that make our area home,” said Brian Saunderson, MPP for Simcoe-Grey. “Countless entrepreneurs have benefited from the support the Sandbox Centre offers.”