Five North Bay area businesses are receiving a total of $1.4 million in provincial funding that will help create 17 new full-time jobs and promote economic development.

The money is going to Central Welding and Iron Works, Designed Roofing, Co-opérative Régionale de Nipissing-Sudbury, a numbered forestry company and Metricaid.

Projects vary from purchasing a new drilling machine, expanding operations, buying a new grain dryer, purchasing forestry equipment and developing software.

“Our government is creating good-paying, full-time jobs in the north by investing in a broad range of industries like manufacturing, forestry, agriculture and technology,” said Vic Fedeli, MPP for Nipissing. “COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on many businesses in the north and across the province. Now more than ever, we are committed to supporting our business owners so they can remain viable and contribute to Ontario’s economic recovery.”

Funding delivered through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) includes:
– Central Welding and Iron Works is receiving $726,750 in funding to purchase and install a new drilling machine to increase production capacity.
– Designed Roofing Inc. is receiving $400,000 in funding to expand its manufacturing and inventory space.
– Co-opérative Régionale de Nipissing-Sudbury is receiving $128,561 in funding to purchase a new grain dryer which will increase its capacity to provide affordable grain-drying and storage services to local farmers.
– A small forestry company (739364 Ontario Inc.) is receiving $118,872 in funding to purchase forestry equipment to increase production capacity.
– Metricaid Inc. is receiving $72,083 in funding to build web and mobile application-based scheduling software for emergency department physicians.

“Supporting local businesses as they expand and innovate will help create jobs, keep the north competitive and attract new investment,” said Greg Rickford, Minister of Energy, Northern Development and Mines. “These investments are helping businesses thrive, leading to economic diversification and providing real opportunities for employment in the region.”

 

(File photo by station staff)