nGen, the Niagara Interactive Media Generator, will receive over $3 million from the Federal government’s Community Adjustment Fund (CAF).
nGen is seen as a hub for interactive media project and business development in the Niagara region. It facilitates networking, collaboration, prototyping, production and business development. nGen's activities enable creative enterprises to produce and exploit their intellectual property, and gain clout in the rapidly growing global marketplace for games, interactive tools and Web 2.0 applications.
The Community Adjustment Fund (CAF) is part of Canada's Economic Action Plan, the Government of Canada's strategy to ensure a quick recovery from the current economic downturn. By focusing on the creation of short-term employment to support communities and the sectors that contribute to their viability, CAF says it can play a distinctive role in relation to other economic stimulus measures included in Canada’s Economic Action Plan.
“This strategic investment is further proof of our government’s commitment to helping St. Catharines adjust to the economic realities of our time,” said area M.P. Rick Dykstra. “This money will help nGen continue to attract and retain much needed new media enterprises to our community, creating new jobs and supporting the growth of a knowledge-based economy for Niagara.”
The funds will go to a much needed expansion of nGen, in order to capitalize on the expansion of the industry, making St. Catharines and Niagara an even more dominant player in digital interactive media. Since nGen's inception, organizers describe, its programs have rapidly exceeded capacity and the initiative has now found itself in need of expansion in order to meet the needs of its emerging cluster. Through increased incubation and access to new technologies, nGen will be able to strengthen its sustainability as a hub for digital interactive media development in the St.Catharines and the Niagara Region. This is the vision of the Niagara Economic Development Corporation (NEDC) Strategic Business Plan and the St. Catharines-Thorold Prosperity Council’s Paths to Prosperity Report, to define new media as a pillar for economic growth and expansion in Niagara.
“We are ecstatic with Rick and the federal government’s announcement and their commitment to support this emerging industry in Niagara,” said Jeff Chesebrough, Executive Director of nGen. “As a support mechanism for digital interactive media companies, nGen is extremely proud of the progress made by our tenants and stakeholders. The development of a state of the art facility, possible through this funding, will accelerate nGen’s vision of cluster development in this sector – providing support for businesses from startups to major players in the industry like Silicon Knights. Opportunity provided through this fund will strengthen Niagara’s position as a leader in digital interactive media.”
“nGen is possible through the collaboration of public and private sector partners who acknowledge the importance of nurturing new digital interactive media ventures and the positive effect it will have on the future of St. Catharines,” said Mayor Brian McMullan. “Support from the Community Adjustment Fund will help secure the future of nGen, enabling it to grow to meet the demands of this burgeoning industry and create highly-skilled jobs as part of the new knowledge-based economy."
nGen initially came about through a broad community collaboration between Brock University's Faculty of Humanities, Niagara College, City of St. Catharines Economic Development Services, Interactive Ontario, Niagara Economic Development Corporation, Niagara Enterprise Agency and Silicon Knights. nGen is supported in its activities with a generous contribution from the Ontario Media Development Corporation.
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