MP Anthony Rota has announced the federal government is investing $460,000 to enable Innovation Initiatives Ontario North to move forward with Phase 3 of its Step Forward Entrepreneurs Program. Rota made the announcement this morning at Canadore College on behalf of Minister Navdeep Bains.
This investment from FedNor will help provide qualifying businesses with up to $10,000 to enhance and expand their operations, create new products and capitalize on export opportunities. Since it was created in 2012, SFEP has provided direct support to over 100 businesses in the Nipissing-Timiskaming and Parry Sound-Muskoka regions. That’s helped to create or maintain more than 90 jobs.
Rota says this will help small businesses innovate and grow so they can create jobs in Northeastern Ontario. He says innovation is one of the keys to creating a strong future. Rota says other keys are the expansion of existing companies, and creation of new corporations. He says this funding helps to create a base where entrepreneurs and businesses can grow.
Rota says this investment will allow entrepreneurs and businesses to have access to the tools and resources needed to develop and thrive in today’s economy. Rota finished by saying in building an economy if they can nurture and help small and medium sized businesses, then long term the country will do very well.
