The Leamington Chamber of Commerce is hoping to create a post-secondary school with a focus on the greenhouse and agri-business sector.
It has received $75,000 in funding from the Ontario Trillium Foundation to hire a consultant to gather data on the idea and develop partnerships for a "Centre of Excellence for the Agri-business" industry.
Dave Campbell sits on the Chamber Board of Directors and says following the closure of Heinz, the chamber heard from greenhouse owners about the shortage of workers in the industry.
"There is more to greenhouses than just labourers, we are looking at skilled trades, greenhouses that have 25-30 people in their marketing department, mechanics, this is bigger than labourers," says Campbell.
He says the consultant will spend a year getting data and talking to universities, colleges, growers and processors to find a way "to get this done."
There are about 700-800 acres of greenhouses in the Leamington area.