Ontario is working with businesses in Kitchener-Waterloo to help make the area a global centre for digital media jobs.

Premier Dalton McGuinty was at the newly opened expansion of theCommunitech Hub today. It brings together entrepreneurs, multinational companies and colleges and universities to collaborate and turn good ideas into digital media products to sell to the world.

While at the Communitech Hub, the Premier toured VeloCity — a new University of Waterloo student-based incubator. It helps students build products, connect with mentors and work with private companies.

The Communitech Hub is expected to create or retain more than 4,000 jobs. More than 458 new companies have been created since it was launched in 2010.

Fostering innovation and partnering with business that are creating the next generation of jobs is part of the McGuinty government’s plan to strengthen Ontario’s economy and create jobs for families.

• Communitech is an industry-led network of 650 organizations focussed on growing young digital media companies to stimulate job creation, commercialization and global competitiveness.
• The Communitech Hub’s digital media strategy is valued at $100 million — with $26.4 million from Ontario over five years. It has relationships with leading information technology companies like RIM, Open Text and Google.
• The digital media sector is one of the fastest growing industries in the knowledge economy — worth US$2.2 trillion.

• Read more about how Ontario is growing the economy and creating jobs.