FedNor funding to support jobs, growth and close to 110 businesses participate in world-class mining convention
December 19, 2023 - North Bay, ON - Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario - FedNor
Anthony Rota, Member of Parliament for Nipissing-Timiskaming, today announced Government of Canada investments totaling $1,323,000 to help mining supply and service businesses innovate, expand, increase sales and exports, and create jobs in Northern Ontario. The announcement was made on behalf of the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services and Minister responsible for FedNor.
Provided through FedNor's Regional Economic Growth through Innovation (REGI) program, $728,000 will allow the City of Temiskaming Shores to establish the Northern Ontario Mining Showcase (NOMS) pavilion at the 2024 Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) Convention. Spanning an impressive 13,200 square feet and featuring a jam-packed roster of 110 mining supply and services exhibitors, NOMS will be one of the largest attractions at the world's premier mineral exploration and mining convention. The FedNor-funded pavilion provides a unique opportunity for exhibitors to increase sales, exports and showcase Northern Ontario innovation, including some of the latest in mining equipment, tools, products, services, and clean-tech.
As part of the announcement, SafeSight Exploration Inc. received a repayable contribution of $350,000 to help them scale-up and commercialize innovative technologies for the mining sector. This priority project is helping fuel the continued success of the company by optimizing its manufacturing and supply chain management to ensure faster delivery, reduced assembly costs and increased production capability. Provided through FedNor's REGI program, the funding is also helping SafeSight expand its services, develop and deploy new technologies and increase sales and exports. This expansion project is expected to create five highly-skilled jobs to support engineering, software development, drone avionics and technical sectors.
The remaining $245,000 is helping SafeSight Exploration Inc. develop and commercialize its shaft measurement technology. Designed to improve data collection, operational efficiencies and employee safety, this new technology will automate shaft measurement and inspection processes required to meet annual legislative requirements. Once deployed, the technology will also help clients improve efficiencies and worker safety by replacing manual inspections with a fully automated system that improves data collection, eliminates risk to employees and reduces downtime. Funded through FedNor's Jobs and Growth Fund (JGF), this repayable contribution is expected to create and maintain eight jobs.
