Manitoba aerospace industry gets $10M lift from federal government

Manitoba's aerospace industry is getting a boost from the federal government.

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The federal Liberals are investing $10 million to expand the Centre for Aerospace Technology and Training and create a new space at Red River College dubbed the Smart Factory, Navdeep Bains, minister of innovation, science and economic development, said Wednesday.

By expanding the technological capabilities at Red River College, the investment will help align the needs of industry with the expertise of post-secondary institutions, Bains said.

The government is partnering with Red River, which will invest $1.2 million, and StandardAero, which will invest $4.5 million, for a combined total investment of $15.7 million.

"This expansion is going to have far-reaching impacts across the province and will be able to serve both the aerospace and non-aerospace industries through direct access to the college's equipment, facilitiesand expertise," said Paul Vogt, president and CEO of Red River College.

The Smart Factory will help aerospace and manufacturing organizations with special equipment connect.

The goal is to help students develop skills needed in the workforce.

The Centre for Aerospace Technology and Training campus is located at StandardAero in Winnipeg, where the company started as Standard Machine Works in 1911.