The head of Windsor-Essex's chief economic development agency says the region can meet any infrastructure challenge.
Stephen Mackenzie used Invest WindsorEssex's annual general meeting Thursday evening to respond to published reports indicating that the region was out of the running for a plant operated by the South Korean firm LG Chem.
When specifically asked if the LG Chem plant was dead in the water, Mackenzie said no, but much work will be done to get Windsor-Essex back on LG Chem's shortlist.
While acknowledging that LG Chem pulled out of a scheduled meeting earlier this month due to concerns about hydro support, Mackenzie said thanks to commitments from the Ontario government, the region can handle a multitude of investments.
"We have the capacity," said Mackenzie. "So I'm very excited right now because I know that my current pipeline for the region is robust. We have the capacity, so we're very enthused about continuing to work with these companies."
Mackenzie said it was unfortunate that the story, based on Invest WindsorEssex's comments earlier this month, gave the impression that the region was incapable of any significant investment.
"I'm a little disappointed that it's back in the news - and it is cleared up - because we live in a global business here, and who knows who's going to pick that up on some wire in some other country and say 'Oh, I guess we shouldn't look at Ontario or Windsor-Essex'?"
Mackenzie added that Invest WindsorEssex does not concern itself with politics though he is grateful to the Ontario government for pledging additional hydro support and financing to support the new Stellantis-LG Energy Solutions electric vehicle battery plant and hopefully, an LG Chem feeder facility.
The meeting was held at Caesars Windsor Thursday night. Also attending were Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens, Invest WindsorEssex board chair and Lakeshore Mayor Tom Bain, Tecumseh Mayor and Essex County Warden Gary McNamara, MPs Brian Masse of Windsor West and Chris Lewis of Essex, and many other representatives of government and business.
