$150,000 Grant Fuels TFI Expansion

September 16, 2008 – Toronto, Ontario – The Toronto Fashion Incubator (TFI) is expanding to over 8,000 square feet, a space larger than the TFI has ever occupied! Thanks to a $150,000 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF), the TFI will take over the entire MUSIC BUILDING at 285 Manitoba Drive, starting January 1, 2009. The grant reflects the OTF’s maximum allowance for capital improvements and will go towards housing several new designers, transforming workspaces and helping to ensure the success of Canada’s talented fashion design pool.

“This is a good fit with the Ontario Trillium Foundation's focus on building strong, sustainable communities through our grants,” said Helen Burstyn, Chair of the Board of Directors, OTF. “Toronto is fortunate to have so many talented young fashion designers, and thanks to the efforts of the Toronto Fashion Incubator, these designers are developing their entrepreneurial skills, building careers, and creating businesses in fashion and design."

The Ontario Trillium Foundation has been supportive of the Toronto Fashion Incubator since 2004, with a previous grant that allowed the TFI to modernize their website. Widespread downtown condominium development in September 2007 caused the TFI to relocate from Queen West to Exhibition Place where they currently occupy one third of 285 Manitoba Drive. Expansion plans, design and construction will be spearheaded by W Network’s Take This House and Sell It! host Glenn Dixon of Dixon Doyle Design. Planned upgrades will enhance work space and support better employment opportunities and economic potential for emerging fashion-design entrepreneurs in West Central Toronto.

“Our non-profit organization is sincerely grateful to the Ontario Trillium Foundation for providing us with this incredible grant. Without OTF’s support, we would still have the dream to expand, but no way to fund it. Plans are already in the works to design a space that meets the needs of fashion designers and other creative entrepreneurs so that they can flourish and become successful, viable businesses,” says Susan Langdon, Executive Director, TFI.

Officially known as the Toronto Centre for the Promotion of Fashion Design, the TFI is an exciting and innovative non-profit group dedicated to nurturing, supporting and promoting new and emerging fashion designers. In 2007, TFI contributed $33.15 million to Toronto’s gross domestic product, attracted over 50,000 to its onsite and online Resource Centre and shared over 12,325,000 pieces of fashion and business data with clients around the globe. As the world’s first official fashion incubator, the TFI has been operating for over 20 years, and has fostered many of Canada’s most celebrated fashion designers including Brian Bailey, Joeffer Caoc, Comrags, David Dixon, Pina Ferlisi, Foxy Originals, Colette Harmon, Todd Lynn, Arthur Mendonça and Mercy.

The Ontario Trillium Foundation is an agency of the Government of Ontario. For over 25 years, the Foundation has supported the growth and vitality of communities across the province. OTF continues to strengthen the capacity of the volunteer sector through investments in community-based initiatives.

Contact Toronto Fashion Incubator: 285 Manitoba Drive, Exhibition Place Toronto, Ontario M6K 3C3 Canada
416 971 7117

Ontario Trillium Foundation: www.trilliumfoundation.org

Press Contact: Faulhaber PR 416 504 0768