The Municipality of Port Hope is launching a new initiative to strengthen the readiness of local and regional businesses to compete in the energy and advanced manufacturing economy.
Through funding from the Ontario Ministry of Rural Affairs’ Rural Ontario Development program, the Municipality is launching an Energy and Manufacturing Sector Supply Chain Business Retention and Expansion (BR&E) program alongside a Request for Proposals for a complementary Energy and Manufacturing Supply Chain Readiness Analysis.
Delivered in collaboration with regional partners, including the Northumberland Manufacturers Association, Port Hope & District Chamber of Commerce, Port Hope Heritage Business Improvement Area, Workforce Development Board, Loyalist College’s Applied Research & Innovation Office and Northumberland County, the BR&E program will support direct business engagement, strengthen sector intelligence, and connect local firms to emerging supply chain opportunities.
The initiative comes at an important time for Port Hope and the wider region. Port Hope is home to Cameco’s Port Hope Conversion Facility, Canada’s only uranium conversion facility. The Municipality is also working with Ontario Power Generation (OPG) through a signed Memorandum of Understanding to explore potential new nuclear generation at the Wesleyville site.
Through the Readiness Analysis and BR&E program, Port Hope and regional partners will better understand the strengths, gaps, and growth potential of manufacturers, industrial service providers, and related supply chain businesses. The work will identify where firms are positioned to grow, diversify, or connect to larger opportunities, and what actions, partnerships, and supports can improve readiness across the sector.
“Port Hope is taking practical steps now to understand our industrial strengths and prepare for the future,” said Olena Hankivsky, Mayor of the Municipality of Port Hope.
“This initiative is about readiness, competitiveness, and making sure our community is well positioned to support business growth, attract investment, and benefit from emerging opportunities in energy and advanced manufacturing.”
The consultant-led Readiness Analysis will assess key factors influencing competitiveness in specialized industrial markets, such as business capabilities, supply chain fit, workforce needs, and certification requirements, while the BR&E program will engage firms directly to gather input, identify shared challenges and opportunities, and inform next steps through outreach, networking, and training. The Municipality encourages manufacturers, industrial service providers, supply-chain companies, sector organizations, and partners to get involved by visiting the project landing page, supporting engagement efforts, attending events, and completing the business survey.
Businesses and stakeholders are invited to:
. Visit the project landing page: engage.porthope.ca/industry-readiness
. Review project details and timelines
. Complete the business survey
. Participate in engagement activities
. Attend upcoming industry events and information sessions
. Share the opportunity with relevant firms and sector contacts
Industry participation will be critical to ensuring the initiative produces practical, evidence-based recommendations that strengthen Port Hope and Northumberland County’s position within Ontario’s energy and manufacturing corridor.
More information, including the survey, event updates, and project background, is available at engage.porthope.ca/industry-readiness.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
