Nearly a million dollars from Ottawa is supporting the launch of the Northern Ontario Defence Opportunities Fund.
MP Pauline Rochefort announced The Business Centre Nipissing Parry Sound is receiving $976,650 from FedNor to help companies become more competitive and prepare them to pursue defence sector supply chain opportunities.
The Business Centre is the lead on the project, but is partnering with the City of North Bay’s Economic Development Department to launch the fund.
It will provide performance‑based contributions of up to $50,000 to eligible firms across the North for a variety of activities, including specialized certifications, consultant services related to cybersecurity, offset costs associated with ISO standards, equipment upgrades and more.
“Northern Ontario is home to a wealth of world-class businesses that are well positioned to access the defence supply chain and today’s announcement is paving the way to get them there,” says Rochefort. “This is a generational opportunity to reinforce our sovereignty and grow the links that keep our communities and industries connected. The Northern Ontario Defence Opportunities Project means more businesses entering the defence space, more high-quality jobs for our region and stronger economic growth that will improve quality of life for everyone.”
Officials say a coordinator will also be hired to complete the program design, support stakeholder engagement, and implement the initiative.
They will also align the program with the Northern Ontario Road to Defence (NORD) initiative to maintain a region‑wide approach to defence‑related programming.
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