FORT FRANCES — Businesses will have the opportunity in learning more about the federal government's Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot in the Rainy River District.
In partnership with the Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission, the Rainy River Future Development Corporation is hosting information sessions on Jan. 11 in Fort Frances, and Jan. 12 in Emo and Rainy River.
Originally the pilot was only available in Thunder Bay, but due to a massive shortage of workers in the north, the pilot was extended to the City of Dryden and the Townships of Fort Frances, Emo, and Rainy River.
“The biggest thing is that we have a very strained employment workforce right now. There are so many job openings right now,” said Angela Halvorsen, the business investment manager for the Rainy River Future Development Corporation.
Halvorsen pointed to the Northern Community Development Services employment office as an example of how many businesses are posting available employment positions.
“If you were and look at their job board, it’s packed. There are so many jobs and not enough people to fill the positions. It’s really a struggle,” Halvorsen said.
Halvorsen said she has heard stories of businesses having to close permanently, and some that temporarily closed due to staffing storage.
“We would hate to lose some of the services we have here locally just because we don’t have enough workers, so hopefully by bringing in people from outside the area, we can fill some of those positions and broaden our communities as well,” Halvorson said.
Halvorsen said that there is a lot of interest already in the information session. Business owners in many different sectors like retail, tourism, and wholesale have signed up across the three area locations.
“It’s kind of been all over the map,” Halvorsen said.
