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Giving Back

Thursday, 23 January 2014 06:00

Roberts family along with MPP Ernie Hardeman

Oxford couple George and Lorna Roberts donate $250,000 to SWEA's Research Chair position

The Southwest Economic Alliance is another step closer to hiring a Research Chair thanks to a generous donation from an Oxford County family.

George and Lorna Roberts donated $250,000 toward the position which would be based at the Ontario Agriculture College. 

George says he hopes this position helps to create jobs for the area.

"We are losing a lot of the small towns and the rural areas, everyone is moving to the city so we are hoping to create some, maybe not necessarily agricultural jobs, but other jobs that are friendly with agriculture."

George says he just felt the project fit will with his family and his goals. 

Warden Don McKay says it's SWEA's goal to get the federal and provincial governments to donate $1 million each to the project. 

"We've had discussions with them, we don't have a promise for their funding but we're still confident."

"SWEA's back up plan is there will be elections and I think both the federal and provincial governments will want to do what's right for Southwestern Ontario."

Another Oxford farming family, George Klosler and his wife made a $250,000 donation to the position last year. Libro Financial also donated $500,000 making SWEA's contribution $1 million. 

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