Articles - Newsletter

Our judging panel was impressed by the quality of applications received this year for 2026’s Pitch your Plan Youth Business Plan competition.  With prizes available in two divisions – Elementary – Grade 7&8, and Secondary – Grade 9-12.  Both winners were presented with a MacBook Air and Invest in Middlesex swag by Warden Sue Clarke to help support their business launch. 

A Taste of Thailand, Rooted in Middlesex County When Thai Pad opened its doors in Lucan, Ontario, it brought something new to Middlesex County - authentic, from-scratch Thai cuisine made the way it is meant to be made, with no shortcuts and no compromises. Thai Pad is a family-owned and operated restaurant serving the Lucan Biddulph community and drawing visitors from across Middlesex County. For owner Lot Chansamone, the mission has always been simple: give customers the real experience.

When Ontario Plants was looking to expand, they weren't just searching for available land. They were looking for a place to build their future. North America's largest propagator of young plants for greenhouse growers found that place in Middlesex County. Their newest and most state-of-the-art greenhouse facility in Glencoe is currently 12 acres, with three planned phases of expansion that will bring the site to a total of 48 acres. Combined with their established operation in St. Thomas, Ontario Plants produces approximately 60 million plants per year across both facilities, and that number is set to grow.

When Norbec needed room to grow, they didn't just look for available land. They looked for a partner. The North American leader in insulated metal panels and walk-in cold storage solutions found that partner in Middlesex County. Their new 140,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Strathroy-Caradoc represents more than a strategic expansion, it's a $45 million vote of confidence in our region's ability to support advanced manufacturing at scale. Since 1982, Norbec has built a reputation across Canada and the United States for precision-engineered cold storage solutions serving food processing, pharmaceutical, and industrial sectors. As demand surged for their custom insulated panels and modular storage systems, the company faced a choice: where to invest in next-generation manufacturing capacity.

For nearly a century, Dashwood Industries has been shaping homes across Ontario with windows and doors that stand the test of time. Founded in 1928 in Dashwood, Ontario, the company has grown from a small local manufacturer into a trusted name in the residential and replacement market. Today, Dashwood continues that tradition from its modern facility in the Township of Adelaide Metcalfe in Middlesex County, where innovation and community go hand in hand.

Middlesex County is home to a robust agriculture industry that provides foundational support for the local economy. Van Osch Farms, a family-owned beef cattle and cash crop operation that has been nurturing the land and feeding families since 1954, is one of these foundational agricultural businesses.

Middlesex County’s Business Retention and Expansion (BR&E) initiative supports local businesses to foster job growth and economic vitality. Through confidential interviews, the program identifies challenges and opportunities to create targeted action plans for job retention, expansion, and an improved business climate. Open to all industries and businesses of every size.

Middlesex County provides a good environment for growing small businesses that strengthen the community and fuel local economic growth. Among them, Baribeau Construction stands out as a multi-generational family business that has been building not just structures, but trust and relationships, for over three decades. Founded in 1987 by Jack Baribeau, this Dorchester-based company has grown into a trusted name in Southwestern Ontario, blending small business values with construction expertise.

Middlesex County is flourishing with small businesses that enrich our community and drive the local economy. One standout is Willow and Water, a remarkable establishment owned and operated by Mia VanBree, whose lifelong passion for horses and the great outdoors is at the heart of this thriving venture.

Last week, Middlesex County staff joined the Grain Farmers of Ontario (GFO) on a tour of agricultural businesses in the County. The tour began at the new Holiday Inn Express, proceeded through southwest Middlesex County, and included visits to Aspire’s cricket processing facility, Arva Flour Mills, and the Western University Environmental Sciences Field Centre. The final stop was Stanton Farms, showcasing innovative agricultural practices. The tour highlighted the significant contributions of grain farmers, who produce $900 million in regional GDP and manage 84% of the county's farmland.