Rising economic fallout and a multi-agency local response have taken centre stage in Owen Sound as the community prepares for two major industrial closures.
Municipal and regional leaders are shifting into active mitigation to cushion the blow to the local economy when TC Transcontinental closes its RBW Graphics printing facility early in the new year, impacting 360 workers. And six employees will lose their jobs as Parrish & Heimbecker closes its harbourfront grain terminal on December 18,
Beyond the direct job cuts, the closure of the P&H grain elevator introduces substantial secondary impacts for the region’s agricultural sector. Local growers have long relied on the harbour site as a nearby storehouse to clear space during harvest for corn and other crops. Without a local facility, farmers face increased shipping costs and higher fuel expenses as they are forced to transport wheat further away to regional processing mills in Hanover, Hamilton, or other distant sites. At the same time, the loss of 360 manufacturing jobs at TC Transcontinental threatens to disrupt consumer spending and broader commercial activity across Grey County.
In response to the compounding economic strain, the City of Owen Sound has created a Transitional Working Group to provide immediate assistance and coordinate long-term planning.
"The City understands that the closure was a corporate decision made at the executive level. While that decision rests with TC Transcontinental, our focus is on the actions we can take locally, while ensuring the people affected remain our immediate priority," stated a media release from the city. "Initial conversations among local and regional partners are focused on understanding the needs and priorities of employees at RBW in Owen Sound, identifying available employment, training and other supports, and considering how those resources can be coordinated in response to those identified needs."
Led by the City alongside Grey County’s Economic Development Team, Georgian College, and Employment Services Bruce Grey Huron and Perth, the working group is actively connecting affected employees with career retraining, skill development, and local job placement programs. City Manager Tim Simmonds and local officials have joined MPP Paul Vickers to analyze the broader economic ripple effects of both closures while assessing future development options for the grain terminal site and reinforcing long-term economic resilience.
