KENORA - The Ontario government is providing $498,000 through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) to help increase tourism, boost economic development and create 13 new jobs in the Kenora-Rainy River region.
"As our province safely and gradually reopens, we are proud to work together with northern communities and businesses to drive economic growth and job creation in the far corners of Ontario," said Greg Rickford, Minister of Energy, Northern Development and Mines. "Together, we are developing resilient, vibrant communities in Northern Ontario and creating real opportunities for the people who live here."
NOHFC investments include:
$400,000 for Big Grassy Logistics Genpar Inc. (BGL), a freight carrier located in Morson, to expand its current fleet of trucks and trailers. The project will create 12 full-time jobs and support the cargo-carrying needs for New Gold Inc.'s Rainy River Mine. $98,000 for the Township of Sioux Narrows-Nestor Falls to transform its existing roadside rest stop on Hwy. 71 into a dynamic tourist destination. Upgrades include improved signage, landscaping, a new information kiosk and picnic shelter, and an accessible pathway to the water and lookout over the falls. The project will create one new seasonal job.The NOHFC promotes economic development across Northern Ontario by providing financial assistance to projects - big and small, rural and urban - that stimulate growth, job creation and skilled workforce development. Since June 2018, the NOHFC has invested more than $193 million in 1,386 projects in Northern Ontario, leveraging more than $748 million in investment and creating or sustaining 3,912 jobs.
The government is moving forward with a regional approach to Stage 3 of reopening the province, as Ontario continues on the path to renewal, growth and economic recovery. For a full list of regions that have entered Stage 3, as well as a list of restrictions that remain in place, please visit ontario.ca/reopen.