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$30-million college building gets federal boost

The building will stand three storeys and will include incubator space

Construction is already underway at the Georgian College Barrie campus, and now the Advanced Technology, Innovation and Research Centre has received a huge financial boost from the federal government.

Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains announced to a packed news conference Monday at Georgian College $10.8 million in federal funding for the three-story building that will be used by 800 degree and diploma students. 

"I'm confident that this new facility will lead to discoveries and jobs that will bring significant benefits to the economy," Bains said. 

The state of the art Centre will be home to Simcoe County's first electrical engineering degree, offered by Georgian in partnership with Lakehead University. 

The facility will cost a total of $30 million and be a living lab that will include research and commercialization space for industry, including incubator, changemaker and fabrication space.

Georgian College President and CEO Dr. MaryLynn West-Moynes called the facility a 'game-changer.'

"If we have ideas and we can't bring them to market we will fail as a society," said West-Moynes. "It is clearly important that commercialization follows any innovation agenda."

Mayor Jeff Lehman called it a 'big step forward for the economy.'

He noted Barrie was ranked as the countries third most entreprenerial city in the country by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business and Financial Post. 

"Two huge things about this project. One, it brings engineering degrees to Barrie," he said. 

"The other huge thing for the economy here is commercialization - helping companies bring new products to market here in Barrie.  Research and development is the key to an innovation economy."

MPP for Barrie Ann Hoggarth said the investment goes beyond a physical building. 

"It is about providing students with access to experiences so they can make new discoveries." Hoggarth said. 

"No longer will our students have to leave home to develop their high tech skills and talent, earn their diplomas and degrees and reach for the stars."  

First year student Mark Reckzin, 18, is one of those students who would've had to leave Barrie to get his engineering degree.

"It means more research opportunities and eventually, hopefully I'll be able to complete my degree here at Georgian. That would be awesome. Otherwise I would have to leave Barrie. I'm just glad that I can do it here."

In addition to the federal funding announced Monday, the Centre for Advanced Technology and Innovation and Research will be financed by $1.8 million from the provincial government, a $5 million contribution from the County of Simcoe and $5 million from the City of Barrie.

The 56,000-square-foot facility faces Highway 400 and will be open for use by the fall of 2018.