Province aims to boost housing supply and strengthen forestry sector with advanced manufacturing investment
BELLEVILLE, Ont. — The Ontario government is investing more than $3.3 million to expand wood manufacturing capacity in eastern Ontario, a move it says will support job creation and help meet rising demand in the province’s construction sector.
The funding, announced July 6 by the Ministry of Natural Resources, will support the growth of Ontario Truss & Wall, a Foxboro-based manufacturer of wood building materials. The investment is expected to create 13 new jobs, retain 50 existing positions and support approximately 100 additional jobs across the region.
The province says the funding is part of its broader strategy to strengthen Ontario’s forest sector while addressing housing supply challenges through increased production of locally sourced construction materials.
“Ontario’s forest sector businesses have manufactured high-quality construction materials for generations, establishing our province as a forest product leader in the G7,” said Kevin Holland, Associate Minister of Forestry and Forest Products. “Under our forest sector roadmap, our government is accelerating sector productivity to help build homes and businesses faster and more affordably with Ontario wood.”
Expanding production capacity and modernizing operations
The investment will be delivered through the Forest Sector Investment and Innovation Program and will enable Ontario Truss & Wall to install automated equipment and expand its facility by 20,000 square feet. The upgrades are expected to increase production capacity by nearly 70 per cent.
According to the province, the modernization effort will also help reduce costs, improve efficiency and enhance product quality, positioning the company to better compete in both regional and broader markets.
The expansion is part of a larger $11-million project already underway by the company to boost output and drive revenue growth.
“We are sincerely grateful to the Ministry for its confidence in our company and its support through this expansion loan. This investment will enhance our capacity to manufacture high-quality structural building components, helping to increase the supply of homes and support the continued growth of Ontario’s housing industry,” said Andrew Bryden, President of Ontario Truss and Wall.
“The Ministry’s partnership reflects a shared commitment to strengthening domestic manufacturing, creating skilled jobs, and improving housing affordability through increased construction capacity. We are proud to play a role in building the homes Ontario needs and appreciate the trust the Ministry has placed in our team.”
Supporting jobs and regional economic growth
Government officials say the investment will have broader economic benefits beyond the company itself, including increased demand for harvesting, hauling and transportation services within the forestry supply chain.
“Ontario’s forestry and wood manufacturing sectors support tens of thousands of jobs across the province and are at the centre of our construction supply chain,” said Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. “As our government delivers on our plan to protect Ontario, we are proud to support Ontario Truss & Wall’s expansion as they increase the production of made-in-Ontario building materials, create good-paying jobs, and help meet the growing demand across our province’s construction sector.”
Local officials also welcomed the investment, citing its importance to the regional economy.
“For more than 40 years, Ontario Truss and Wall has been an integral part of the local housebuilding sector, and in turn an important part of the larger forestry industry in Hastings-Lennox and Addington,” said Ric Bresee, MPP for Hastings-Lennox and Addington. “With this expansion, our region is showing its capacity to support homebuilding across the province, and I am grateful to the province, through Minister Holland, for recognizing that capacity.”
Belleville Mayor Neil Ellis said the project underscores the role of local employers in building strong communities.
“This investment will support the expansion of local manufacturing, create new employment opportunities and strengthen an industry that contributes to the economic success of the Foxboro and Belleville region,” Ellis said.
Industry groups highlight modernization efforts
Industry organizations say the funding aligns with broader efforts to modernize Ontario’s forest products sector through advanced manufacturing and innovation.
“The Ontario Forest Industries Association (OFIA) welcomes today’s investment. Ontario’s forest products sector is actively modernizing, leveraging advanced manufacturing sites across the province to deliver sustainable, homegrown construction materials to the marketplace,” said Ian Dunn, President and CEO of the Ontario Forest Industries Association.
Similarly, Ed DeBiasio, Chair of the Ontario Structural Wood Association, said investments in domestic manufacturing capacity are critical to meeting future housing needs.
“This type of investment supports jobs, boosts productivity, and helps make more Ontario-made construction materials available for the homes and communities we need,” he said.
Steven Street, Executive Director of WoodWorks Ontario, added that off-site construction methods are playing an increasingly important role in accelerating housing delivery.
“Off-site manufacturing facilities like Ontario Truss and Wall are modernizing construction with new delivery models and advanced wood construction methods,” Street said. “These advancements support jobs, enhance productivity, and expand the use of Ontario-made value-added wood products to build the homes we urgently need.”
Part of broader provincial strategy
The funding initiative is part of Ontario’s 10-year Roadmap to Protecting Ontario’s Forest Sector, released in April, which aims to maintain the province’s position as a global leader in wood product manufacturing.
As of July 2026, nearly $98 million has been committed through the Forest Sector Investment and Innovation Program, leveraging approximately $540 million in additional external investment.
The forest sector remains a key contributor to Ontario’s economy, generating nearly $21 billion in annual business revenue and supporting close to 155,000 jobs.
Provincial officials say sustainably sourced wood products from Ontario’s Crown forests will continue to play a central role in supporting both economic growth and environmentally responsible construction.