It's time for the little guys.

Small to medium-sized manufacturers are the targets for a new $25-million provincial-private program that will fund training initiatives.

The program, launched officially yesterday by the Yves Landry Foundation, will provide up to $50,000 per project for training for Ontario manufacturers. The program can help with developing new engineering skills, providing training in the use of new software, hardware or other tools, or retraining.

The program comes as Ontario's manufacturers struggle with a steadily strong loonie and economic upheaval.

Karyn Brearley, executive director of the Yves Landry Foundation, said the aim is to advance skills training and education. She said the initiative is critical for small and medium-sized businesses.

"When times are tough, the first to go (in budget cuts) is training," she said. "Yet we see the value of training in the workforce that really can help companies grow, explore an initiative or be more sustainable. This is very exciting."

Despite the challenges, the manufacturing sector still accounted for 14.4 per cent of Ontario's total employment in 2007. The province has the most manufacturing employees of any North American jurisdiction after California.

Ontario Minister of Economic Development Michael Bryant, at Mohawk College's new Stoney Creek campus yesterday to make the announcement, said the program came about following consultations with business leaders.

"After talking to small and medium-sized businesses, this is one of the best investments a government can make," he said. "We want to support on-the-job training."

The announcement followed the launch yesterday of another joint $25-million initiative between the Ontario government and the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters association designed to help small and medium-sized businesses become more productive.

The SMART program will provide up to 50 per cent of eligible program costs, to a maximum of $50,000 per project, and focus on three key areas: lean manufacturing and process improvements; information and communications technology; and energy efficiency.

Paul Clipsham, director of policy in the Ontario division of the manufacturers and exporters group, said the two program announcements combined "are a strong shot in the arm" to the province's beleaguered smaller manufacturers.

For more information, see yveslandryfoundation.com or cme-mec.ca.

lmarr@thespec.com

905-526-3992