$6.7 million is being provided to 15 different initiatives in the Nipissing-Timiskaming area to promote job growth and business development.
The money is coming from FedNor, which was announced via a Zoom call on Tuesday featuring Nipissing-Timiskaming MP Mike Rota, and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages Terry Sheehan along with representatives from Canadore College and Drillco Cutting Tools.
FedNor says the money will “help businesses adopt new technologies, commercialize new products and expand their operations. They will also support advanced manufacturing and boost productivity and growth throughout the area by matching skilled workers to employer needs.”
Canadore College’s ICAMP program will be receiving $1.7 million of the funding.
ICAMP is a project that aims to support industry in the city by providing manufacturing expertise and technology.
Brad Gavan Director of Corporate, Community and Alumni Partnership at Canadore said at the meeting that the ICAMP program has supported 250 companies in 11 sectors over its seven years of operation. He adds that the $1.7 million will go towards helping companies research production of personal protective equipment (PPE) to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
Canadore’s president, George Burton is looking forward to what the new money will do for the school.
“Transferring knowledge is at the core of what we do here at Canadore College, and the investments announced today will help us to bring more science, information, and technology from the labs to the production lines. By helping to connect our faculty and students to more businesses and organizations, we are strengthening northern Ontario’s innovation ecosystem, and contributing to growing the economy in the process,” he said in a statement.
According to FedNor’s website, the other recipients of the $6.7 million are:
- Nipissing First Nation – $1,000,000
“In support of the development of Bineshii Business Park by designing and constructing the local infrastructure required to open up to 35 commercial and light industrial lots.”
- Innovation Initiatives Ontario North (IION) – $1,555,000
This FedNor investment will enable IION to implement phase two of its Triple-P (Productivity, Prototype, Process improvements) initiative, expanding the program’s reach to support more small and medium-sized enterprises in Northeastern Ontario. Specifically, the program will provide qualifying businesses with to up to $10,000 to help them adopt new technologies, create jobs, achieve meaningful growth and increase revenues. Once fully implemented, phase two of Triple-P is expected to assist up to 150 Northern Ontario businesses grow their operations while helping to create or maintain more than 400 middle-class jobs in the region.
- Drillco Mining and Exploration – $750,000
“FedNor is investing a total of $750,000 to help the company bring this cutting-edge technology to market. The project is expected to result in the creation of 18 full-time jobs and a full commercial rollout of this clean-tech system.”
- B&G Industrial Services Ltd. – $636,626
“In support of the expansion of the organization’s existing fabrication facility and the purchase of specialized equipment to increase productivity.”
- North Bay & District Chamber of Commerce – $475,650
“To implement a pilot program to match skilled immigrants with businesses facing labour shortages in northern and rural communities.”
- Resolution Machining – $219,098
“This funding helped Resolution Machining purchase new equipment, grow its operations, expand its service offerings and capitalize on new opportunities in emerging markets. Just recently completed, this strategic investment helped the company to create high-quality local jobs and allowed the organization to improve its competitiveness.”
- Miller Technology Inc. – $204,250
“A FedNor investment of $204,250 will help Miller Technology purchase and install specialized equipment to increase productivity and enhance production. Specifically, this targeted investment will allow the company to scale-up its in-house capabilities to include cutting and forming operations, which will create jobs, improve efficiencies and allow the company to quickly react to marketplace preferences.”
- Ontario Wood WORKS! – $90,000
“To promote the province’s forestry sector and its economic, social and ecological benefits, this targeted investment will be used to expand the organization’s “It takes a forest” public awareness initiative. Specifically, the funding will be used to install 24 billboards throughout Northern Ontario.”
- Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities (FONOM) – $55,879
“To help restart and grow Northern Ontario’s economy and workforce, this investment will be used to promote the region in southern markets through the FONOM Video Project 2020. This strategic initiative will promote the entire region by featuring its strengths, talented workforce, the availability and price of residential and industrial land, as well as the social and economic benefits of a Northern Ontario lifestyle.”
- Le Centre culturel ARTEM – $49,375
“This New Liskeard-based organization will use the FedNor investment to hire a project coordinator and consultants to explore different cooperative models for Francophone businesses in the region with a goal to support the economic, social and cultural vitality of the local community.”
- ACFO-Témiskaming – $25,000
“To develop a feasibility study and business plan to evaluate the viability of bringing together various local Francophone organizations under one roof to service the region.”
