Communities across Southwestern Ontario will receive a major cash injection from the province in an effort to spur economic growth.

A controversial $80 million jobs fund for the region has been passed in the Ontario legislature.

The Liberals received support from the New Democrats and the bill passed by a vote of 55-32 on Tuesday.

"These funds are about creating jobs and driving the economic growth that community and business leaders know to be successful," said Brad Duguid, Minister of Economic Development and Innovation.

"Our government has listened. And today, we're moving forward with more strong action for Ontario's economy," added Duguid.

The Progressive Conservatives voted against Bill 11 on Tuesday noting the province simply can't afford the stimulus fund.

"It's the business community that creates jobs not the government," said Monte McNaughton, Tory MPP for Lambton Kent-Middlesex.

"We think that the economic environment in Ontario is in a bad spot right now because of the policies and the overspending that Dalton McGuinty has been taking Ontario down."

Under the legislation, the province will provide $20-million a year over four years for hard-hit communities across Southwestern Ontario.

"It really would be focused on opportunities for job growth," said Peter White, the President and CEO of the London and Economic Development Corporation.

"It may mean either a company expanding with its current offerings or attracting a new company into the region."

White says the LEDC is already working on several files and the new fund should help give London a competitive edge.

"When companies are looking at the United States versus Ontario, there are incentives on the table in the US right now that we don't have available," said White.

"This again helps give us a competitive leg when we're working on those types of applications, and there are a couple of those currently underway."

The same fund was set up in Eastern Ontario back in 2008. 

According to the province, it has helped create or retain over 13,000 jobs and leveraged over $595 million in investment across the eastern region.