The Ontario government is providing $1 million to help transform the Sandbox Centre in downtown Barrie into the province’s latest Regional Innovation Centre (RIC).
The new funding is designed to help local entrepreneurs access expertise and resources that will help them expand or scale-up their businesses.
Currently, the Sandbox Centre is used as a local business hub, where firms can book meeting spaces, rent equipment, and connect with other entrepreneurs. It will soon become the province’s 17th RIC.
The RIC program was first introduced in 2010 under former premier Dalton McGuinty, with the purpose of helping regional businesses grow in different parts of the province.
The Ontario government first promised to establish an RIC in Barrie during last year’s budget, which was followed by a public call for proposals that was launched in the summer. According to government data, RICs supported 5,500 tech clients in 2022-23, which helped create over 10,000 new full‐time jobs.
“We are so grateful to the province for this very important funding in Barrie,” said Mayor Alex Nuttall in a statement. “I advocated for this provincial funding and met with the province to highlight the need for Barrie to have a Regional Innovation Centre.”
“This government sees the potential in Barrie and surrounding region and is making investments alongside us. I look forward to seeing the positive impacts this new centre will have for our community.”
