In this episode, we learn how Ontario’s economic developers help attract, support, and retain major manufacturing investments in their communities. Our guest is Sean Dyke, the CEO of the St. Thomas Economic Development Corporation. St. Thomas is where PowerCo, a subsidiary of Volkswagen, decided to locate its $7 billion battery manufacturing plant—Canada’s largest greenfield manufacturing investment yet. This small city is also home to Formet Industries, a division of Magna International. Formet is Canada’s largest automotive parts manufacturing facility and the world’s largest automotive frame manufacturing plant. Tune in to find out how St. Thomas is being transformed into a hub for advanced manufacturing.

• 01:07 Introduction to Sean Dyke and St. Thomas
• 03:42 Why the Economic Developers Council of Ontario Matters
• 05:32 The Economic Development Career Path
• 07:32 St. Thomas’ Evolution Over the Past 20 Years
• 10:36 Why PowerCo Chose St. Thomas
• 13:05 What Happens After the Big Announcement
• 15:34 Secrecy Around Investment Attraction
• 18:00 Role in Workforce Development For PowerCo and Other Companies
• 21:19 Regional Approach to Economic Development
• 25:50 Importance of Magna to St. Thomas
• 26:24 An Exciting New Manufacturer: Element 5
• 28:39 Focus on Housing
• 29:55 St. Thomas’ Goals For Hannover Messe
• 31:41 Rapid Fire Questions

Find Out More About St. Thomas and PowerCo

• St. Thomas Economic Development Corporation website: st-thomas.org
• PowerCo website: powerco.ca
• PowerCo Careers: careers.powerco.de

Find Out More About Trillium

• Trillium website: trilliummfg.ca
• Trillium GIS: trilliumgis.ca
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/trilliummfg
• X/Twitter: x.com/TrilliumMfg
• Instagram: instagram.com/trilliummfg
• Facebook: facebook.com/trilliummfg
• Old ‘Making it in Ontario’ Episodes: https://soundcloud.com/making-it-in-ontario-past

About the Making it in Ontario Podcast

Making it in Ontario is your window into what's next in manufacturing. Ontario’s economy depends on manufacturing, but the latest research reveals concerning trends that could undermine the sector’s strength—if we don’t address them. Join us as we talk to CEOs and other leaders at the forefront of the sector about productivity, strategy, talent markets and career opportunities, and the role of manufacturing in a prosperous and sustainable future.

This podcast is an initiative of the Trillium Network for Advanced Manufacturing. It is produced by Storied Places Media.