GUELPH/ERAMOSA – A 60,000 sq. ft. chicken vaccine facility is closer to fruition in Guelph/Eramosa after council endorsed extending City of Guelph sewer and water services to the proposed facility.
CEVA Animal Health Inc., plans to build a new manufacturing plant at 5410 Wellington Road 86, just north of the Guelph auto mall. The plant would make poultry vaccines against coccidiosis, an intestinal disease found in birds and mammals.
This resolution at Guelph/Eramosa's first remote council meeting was necessary so the City of Guelph can amend its operating licenses and approvals through the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.
According to a report to council, Guelph/Eramosa already receives sewer and water services from Guelph at certain locations such as Rockwood sewage and the Gazer/Mooney subdivision. CAO Ian Roger described this resolution to council as simply a matter of completing paperwork for the ministry as Guelph has already endorsed extending its services.
CEVA already operates a facility just inside Guelph city limits on Malcolm Road. The new facility on Wellington Road 86 will neighbour this existing property.
Township council had previously given Dan Sharina, chief building official, authority to approve an agreement for a conditional permit just before the COVID-19 pandemic situation worsened.
“The project is still proceeding albeit slowly due to these conditions,” Roger said to council.
According to a report to council, the new facility will ultimately employ 40 people. Mayor Chris White said he sees this as a great opportunity for the township.
“This is a really good economic development thing for our township, for the agricultural part of our business,” White said to council. “It could be one of those things that becomes a hub that balloons and is exporting internationally, so this is a real boost to our township.”
Councillor Mark Bouwmeester also expressed his excitement to council about this project.
“We are assisting growth on an industrial/commercial type of deal that holds well for municipal tax revenue in the future,” Bouwmeester said to council. “This is exactly what one of our future priorities is to grow that base, this whole thing is good news.”
