Sweet deal for a sweet set up
A fledgling Sault Ste. Marie chocolate manufacturing company with a social justice cause is slated to open for business this summer with the support of the Ontario government.
Boosted by $73,755 in funding from the provincial government, the Centre for Social Justice and Good Works was able to establish the Sweet Change Chocolate Company.
Ross Romano, member of provincial parliament for Sault Ste. Marie, said his government’s funding will support two full-time jobs via the Centre For Social Justice and Good Works.
“We are investing in local businesses like the Sweet Change Chocolate Company, through the Centre for Social Justice and Good Works, which are eager to train and hire, matching them with workers who seek opportunity,” Romano relayed.
The Centre For Social Justice and Good Works — which is located on Herrick St. in Sault Ste. Marie — was established in 2015 and is designed to help people facing barriers to employment develop life skills and gain work experience.
As for the Sweet Change Chocolate Company, it will operate its manufacturing, wholesale and retail sectors from a building located on the corner of Queen St. E. and Gore St. in the downtown area of Sault Ste. Marie.
And the executive director of the Centre for Social Justice and Good Works has much to say about the Sweet Change Chocolate Company and its ambitions moving forward.
“We started this social-enterprise business because we wanted to teach people about manufacturing, wholesale and retail skills … and we had to have a hands-on environment,” Christina Coutu told Sault Business Matters. “So we looked for a conduit to teach and we found that chocolate was a really great way of teaching these essential skills.”
PHOTO: Christina Coutu, of the Centre for Social Justice and Good Works, with Sault Ste. Marie MPP Ross Romano.
