It’s no secret businesses in Simcoe County and across the province are dealing with new obstacles when it comes to the tariffs. But Friday the province announced nearly $200,000 to help businesses excel and keep local jobs. “Black Controls is an automation integrator so we mainly focus on material handling systems,” says Rick Black, Controls Company Inc. owner. Black started his Barrie business out of his home in 2019. He is now based out of an industrial building with 35 staff. Like many business owners that deal with the United States, Black says the tariff war is having its effects. “We have customers in the United States and those relationships have definitely been strained. And we’ve lost business with them due to the tariffs and we also have partners in the U.S. who supply us with equipment, which is also getting to be more expensive with the counter tariffs,” says Black. Barrie-Innisfil MPP Andrea Kanjin says Ontario is allocating $180,000 in all to protect workers in Barrie from U.S. tariffs. Kanjin and Barrie-Springwater-Oro-Medonte MPP Doug Downey unveiled plans to help local businesses navigate the fast-changing and challenging new world of tariffs by helping companies expand into new markets and strengthen their competitiveness. The province says it will supply the money through its trade-impacted communities program which will be operated through the city by Invest Barrie. “They will receive training, they will receive mentorship, they’ll receive support to go and access other markets,” says Stephannie Schlichter with the City of Barrie. “You know, we are in a very good position during a very difficult time trying to position our area, so we are seeing economic growth even in these uneasy times,” says Barrie Mayor Alex Nuttall. And this fall, a Trade Accelerator Program cohort will launch with the Toronto Region Board of Trade, the City of Orillia and County of Simcoe, aimed to help businesses across Barrie, Orillia and Simcoe County enter new markets and receive tailored tariff and trade advisory support. “So I think that’s a good opportunity for us as well as other local businesses to get into,” says Black. For local businesses who are interested, they can reach out to the City of Barrie directly.
