Province supports business park development at the airport

The province is in for $2 million so is the city and if the feds commit to the same funds the city owned property adjacent to Jack Garland Airport will quickly become a centre for business.

Today Nipissing MPP Monique Smith and North Bay Mayor Al McDonald revealed the plans to create a new aviation airside and groundside industrial park.

Through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation’s (NOHFC) Infrastructure and Community Development Program, the province has committed $2 million to the city for the infrastructure development component of the project, as well as $50,000 to develop engineering designs and complete a draft plan of the subdivision identifying service requirements.

The MPP says the investment is all about expanding economic development for the region.

“We want to see new companies, new businesses, new manufacturers coming to North Bay and that is what this is all about.”

“So the $2 million will work with the city’s money, and they are looking forward to some federal money, to bring together a whole development of these industrial lands here at the North Bay airport.”



Mayor McDonald says the city is working hard to create an environment for which business and industry will be successful.

"We need land land for that we need serviced land," he explains.

"We have a 10,000 foot runway obviously there is a lot of interest from business and industry in this land. This is the first step in being able to create those opportunities so that we can service those lands so that we can bring business and jobs here to our city."



City Engineer Alan Korell says detail engineering is wrapping and once all the funding is in place the city would be looking at tenders for late July and construction starting in late August.

"That's bringing the water sewer and roads, and hydro into the new industrial park near the corner of Airport and Carmichael."



The NOHFC funds will result help:

• the servicing of 48 hectares of zoned industrial lands;

• the creation of approximately 24 industrial lots averaging five acres in size;

• the extension of municipal water, sewer, roadway, utilities, lighting and telecommunications services over a maximum distance of 4.2 kilometres; and

• the potential for many more new jobs resulting from businesses setting up in the park and industrial activity at the park.