KITCHENER -- The provincial government has invested $1.5 million in a manufacturing facility in Waterloo Region. Techo-Bloc plans to create 50 jobs with its first Ontario manufacturing facility, located in Ayr. In a news release, the province said the funding will help grow southwestern Ontario's manufacturing sector during economic recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic. "Helping local communities and local municipalities create jobs will ensure that no region of Ontario is left behind as we emerge from the pandemic and lay the foundation for long-term growth and opportunity," Minister of Economic Development Vic Fedeli said in a news release. "By attracting private-sector investment, creating jobs, and supporting growth in the Ayr region, Techo-Bloc will be a corner stone in the community for years to come."