Backgrounder
Terry Sheehan, Parliamentary Secretary to the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages and Minister responsible for FedNor, announced a FedNor investment of more than $6.7 million for 15 strategic initiatives that support clean-tech, manufacturing, innovation, immigration, and business development and growth in Nipissing-Timiskaming.
Nipissing-Timiskaming initiatives supported by FedNor
Canadore College
$1,700,400
Technology and innovation
FedNor funding of $930,400 will enable Canadore College to engage with companies, students and faculty to support applied research projects. Specifically, the investment will be used to purchase high-tech equipment for the Innovation Center for Advanced Manufacturing and Prototyping to assist with product design and development, process improvements, market-driven problem resolution, and/or prototype development and testing.
Research & Development (R&D)
To help facilitate industry and academic partnerships for research and development projects, FedNor funding of $378,000 will allow Canadore College to hire an industry liaison and research technician to initiate and complete late-stage and pre-commercial projects. This three-year initiative will target prototype testing and demonstrations with a focus on mining supply and services and process improvement. Once complete, the project is expected to increase the number of local and regional companies adopting and commercializing technologies in Northern Ontario.
Manufacturing Personal Protective Equipment
An investment of $267,000 will help Canadore College produce additional personal protective equipment (PPE) for the medical industry at its ICAMP facility. Specifically, this funding will allow the college to support local businesses in their efforts to create new PPE products or assist in retooling their product lines.
COVID-19 Responsive Interns
A FedNor investment of $125,000 will enable Canadore College to hire two COVID-19 Responsive Interns for a two-year period to work at the Innovation Center for Advanced Manufacturing and Prototyping. The interns will support local businesses with short-term projects that help create new products that support the medical industry or assist in retooling product lines.
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.
Nipissing First Nation
$1,000,000
Support the development of Bineshii Business Park by designing and constructing the local infrastructure required to open up to 35 commercial and light industrial lots.
Drillco Mining and Exploration
$750,000
As a North America industry leader, North Bay-based Drillco is garnering global attention with the introduction of its diamond core Clean-Tech Modular Drilling System. 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
Support 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
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
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.
