Ontario Supporting Sudbury's Agri-Food Sector
Ontario is investing in local businesses in the Greater Sudbury Region that will help strengthen the region's agri-food processing industry.
Glenn Thibeault, MPP for Sudbury, made the announcement on behalf of Michael Gravelle, Minister of Northern Development and Mines, today in Sudbury at Crosscut Distillery Ltd.
With support from the province's Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC), Crosscut Distillery Ltd. has opened its operations on Kelly Lake Road, conducted facility renovations and purchased equipment, including a copper potstill and fermentation tanks. The business will manufacture spirits such as vodka, gin and whisky, using ingredients grown locally in Northern Ontario such as quinoa, barley and birch products.
The NOHFC is also investing in the following local businesses:
Good4UShrimp Inc. for its year round aquaculture farm that produces high-quality shrimp products for local stores and restaurants.BE Greater Organics Inc. for their organic food/health store that sells vegan and hypo allergenic products.Investing in the agri-food industry in the Greater Sudbury Region is part of Ontario's plan to support care create opportunity and make life more affordable during this period of rapid economic change. The plan includes a higher minimum wage and better working conditions, free tuition for hundreds of thousands of students, easier access to affordable child care, and free prescription drugs for everyone under 25, and 65 or over, through the biggest expansion of medicare in a generation.
Quick Facts
Ontario is investing $200,000 in Crosscut Distillery Ltd., $200,000 in Good4UShrimp Inc., and $61,909 in BE Greater Organics Inc., through the NOHFC's Northern Business Opportunity Program.Through the 2018 budget, Ontario is continuing to promote growth in Northern Ontario by gradually increasing NOHFC funding over the next three years to $150 million by 2020-21.Since 2013, the province has invested more than $654 million through the NOHFC in over 4,000 projects, leveraging more than $2.3 billion in direct economic activity and creating or sustaining over 15,200 jobs in Northern Ontario.In Sudbury, the NOHFC has invested more than $120 million in 712 projects that have helped create or retain more than 1,980 jobs since 2013.Additional Resources
NOHFC programsCrosscut Distillery Ltd.BE Greater Organics IncQuotes
"Products that are grown and made in Northern Ontario help create jobs, and showcase the great things that our region has to offer. This investment from the NOHFC will allow more people in the North and across the country to share in some of the good things that grow in Northern Ontario."
"As a Northerner, I understand the unique economic challenges we all face across the North. By making strategic investments in the agri-food industry in Greater Sudbury our government is helping create new opportunities for local residents. In Budget 2018 we announced the NOHFC's allocation will increase to $150 million annually allowing our government to help even more communities and businesses invest in projects that will strengthen the Northern economy."
"We at Crosscut Distillery are grateful to the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation for its support in purchasing the equipment required to transform Ontario agricultural products into fine spirits. We raise our glass to NOHFC and its support of all entrepreneurs in the North."
Shane Prodan