North Bay’s Airport Industrial Business Park ready for development
City of North Bay News Release ******************** Today, Mayor Al McDonald, along with Assistant Deputy Minister Cal McDonald on behalf of The Honourable Rick Bartolucci, Minister of Northern Development and Mines and Chair of the Northern Ontario
Today, Mayor Al McDonald, along with Assistant Deputy Minister Cal McDonald on behalf of The Honourable Rick Bartolucci, Minister of Northern Development and Mines and Chair of the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation, and Nipissing–Timiskaming Member of Parliament Jay Aspin, officially announced North Bay’s Airport Industrial Business Park.
“We are very pleased with the tremendous support we have received from our government and community partners in the development of the new Airport Business Park” said Mayor McDonald. “This has truly been a collaborative project and we are excited about what this means for future economic development in North Bay.”
The City has received infrastructure funding from the Federal Government of $2 million through FedNor and $2 million from the Provincial Government through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund (NOHFC) for the Park, and, with work already underway, the first phase of servicing is scheduled to be complete by 2012. The City of North Bay also contributed $2 million to this project.
“Since 2003, the Province has been an important partner in North Bay’s many community economic development projects, including this latest project. Beginning with NOHFC support in 2006 to the most recent contribution to the Airport Business Park project of more than $2 million announced earlier this year, the McGuinty government has demonstrated its commitment to creating jobs and building local economies by investing in community infrastructure,” stated Rick Bartolucci, Minister of Northern Development and Mines and Chair of the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation.
With over 600 acres of land now available at competitive rates, North Bay’s newest Industrial Park will support business growth in the community for years to come. With both airside- and ground-side lots available for either sale or lease, the City will be targeting aerospace/aviation, high-tech and manufacturing companies and has put together an attractive incentive program to support new development. The municipal Airport Community Improvement Plan, combined with Northern Ontario Heritage Fund and FedNor programs, will give companies an opportunity to leverage public funding support to spur development projects.
“I am proud to be part of a government that is investing to strengthen the economic foundation of this region,” said Jay Aspin, Member of Parliament for Nipissing–Timiskaming. “I look forward to witnessing first-hand the positive results this groundbreaking will deliver. The Government of Canada is committed to making strategic investments that support the development, growth and diversification of Northern Ontario’s economy.”
