DRYDEN - The Ontario government provides more than $1.2 million through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation to seven business and community enhancement projects in the Dryden area. The money will go towards building and improving facilities and purchasing new equipment.
One such company to receive find is AgriTech North. They will receive $200,000 to acquire indoor hydroponic growing equipment to increase access to fresh food in communities without storefronts.
“AgriTech North is a first-of-kind, wholesale-scale, year-round grower of fresh produce in Northwestern Ontario. The conventional agri-food industry is already very capital-intensive, and year-round growing to establish food security in our region even more so,” said Benjamin Feagin Jr., CEO, AgriTech North. “This organization would not have been possible without the contribution from the NOHFC, so we are expressing our deepest gratitude to them for supporting our roadway, rural and remote communities' food security.”
This investment builds a stronger Ontario by nurturing local ties and creating long-term economic growth in Northwestern Ontario.
Another Northern Ontario Heritage Fund investment will go to the Local Services Board of Wabigoon to establish a multi-use outdoor pavilion for community events and recreation. They will receive $150,000.
"Three years ago, the Local Services Board of Wabigoon recognized a dire need for a multi-use facility to provide cultural, economic and recreational activities in Wabigoon. The Province of Ontario and Minister Rickford have been instrumental in assisting us with guidance and now funding. A provincial grant from the Trillium Foundation provided the initial feasibility study. The Local Services Board wishes to acknowledge that the NOHFC, its programs and local reps have realized yet again the needs and requirements of the North. This project in Wabigoon brings together multiple cultures and strengthens our community," said Richard Wetelainen, Chair, Local Services Board of Wabigoon
Other projects receiving Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation funding include:
- $380,000 to Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation to build an Early Years Centre to provide land-based and cultural programming to children and the community
- $361,875 to the City of Dryden to improve its airport facilities and renovate the terminal building to accommodate additional businesses and increase revenue
- $80,247 to Parrs Jars to develop a commercial kitchen, meal and grocery service to make locally produced food accessible to the community
- $62,628 to Vermilion Bay Lions Hall to renovate and repair the facility to provide for a greater diversity of events at the hall
- $18,386 to Rocking K Ranch to establish a new building and infrastructure to expand operations and fulfill the growing demand for local beef.
"Our government recognizes that investing in local businesses and infrastructure creates strong communities,” said Greg Rickford, Minister of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry. "This funding will help the residents of Dryden and surrounding areas invest their passion in the communities where they live.”
The NOHFC promotes economic prosperity across Northern Ontario by providing financial assistance to big and small projects that stimulate growth, job creation, and skills development. Since June 2018, the NOHFC has invested more than $519 million in 4,496 projects in Northern Ontario, leveraging over $1.77 billion in investment and creating or sustaining over 7,000 jobs.
