Growing Chatham-Kent’s Agricultural Economy Means Creating More Jobs

To our Farmers of Chatham-Kent,

Chatham-Kent has a strong agricultural community. You, our farmers and agricultural business partners, contribute enormously to our community.

I believe we can do more to create opportunities to capture more value from the work you already do.

As Mayor, Chatham-Kent will be looking at opportunities in food processing, co-packing, commercial kitchens, cold storage, distribution and product development. By doing more of this work here, we can create jobs, attract investment and help local businesses reach new customers and export markets.

These opportunities will be increasingly available with the additional support from federal and provincial governments with changing international trade agreements with new and returning foreign partners. Canada is upgrading its export game, and we can fit into the supply chain, and even become the entire supply chain, for local food exports.

My commitment is to build a Value-Added Agriculture Pipeline that connects our agricultural production with real businesses, real markets and real employment opportunities.

A practical plan with clear timelines

When elected, I will:

Within my first 100 days: Bring growers, processors, logistics providers, institutions and potential operators together to identify capacity gaps and real market demand.

Within 12 months: Develop a partner-led business case identifying the best operating model, site, infrastructure needs, markets, financing and conditions for moving forward.

By the end of 2028: Advance at least one viable facility or shared-service project to financing, approvals or construction.

Success will be measured by private and partner investment, local farm products processed or stored, permanent jobs, wages, customers and export sales.

Responsible growth with public safeguards

Leadership makes investment possible; it should not become the operator.

Before any municipal capital is committed, Council must have a complete, costed business case. Projects must have a qualified operator that is not the Municipality, a responsible operating plan, affordable infrastructure requirements and a path toward financial break-even.

We will prioritize industry and operator investment, agriculture and regional-development programs, and recoverable servicing arrangements where appropriate. There will be no permanent municipal operating commitment without a separate, approved business case.

Food safety, water and wastewater capacity, traffic, environmental requirements and competitive procurement will remain essential parts of the review.

Building a stronger future

I want Chatham-Kent to be a place where businesses can grow and our young people can find good jobs without having to leave the community.

We already have the producers, land, knowledge and connections to markets. Now we need to be more deliberate about turning those strengths into new businesses, investment and employment.

We have an opportunity to grow more than what we produce. We can grow the value of our agricultural economy and create the jobs that come with it. That is the practical, responsible economic development I want to pursue as Mayor of Chatham-Kent.

— Randy Hope