New Heritage Fund programs announced

The Ontario government says six programs introduced today by Northern Development and Mines Minister Rick Bartolucci will create jobs and build prosperity in Northern Ontario.

Further information, and program details, are included in the following news release and backgrounders issued at 3:45 p.m. today by Bartolucci's office:

(SAULT STE. MARIE)
The McGuinty government has released details and application guidelines for six new Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) programs that will revitalize Northern Ontario, Northern Development and Mines Minister and NOHFC Chair Rick Bartolucci announced today.

“The new NOHFC is now open for business,” said Bartolucci.

The six new programs, developed under the refocused NOHFC mandate, will provide new opportunities to northern Ontario youth, young entrepreneurs, business owners, communities, public-private partnerships and others across the North. They will complement other government initiatives such as the Northern Ontario Grow Bonds pilot project and the GO North Investor Program.

“We kept the fund active during the review of the NOHFC’s mandate,” said Bartolucci.

“Now we’ve got a new and improved program that will help retain youth and support important community initiatives and private-public partnerships that foster economic growth and job creation in the North.”

A refocused NOHFC is key to the government’s Northern Prosperity Plan for delivering real, positive change across the North. The plan is founded on four pillars or areas of focus: Strengthening the North and its Communities; Listening to and Serving Northerners Better; Competing Globally; and Providing Opportunities for All.

ENTERPRISES NORTH JOB CREATION PROGRAM
The refocused Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) now offers capital funding assistance to enterprises that will create jobs in the North.

Assistance, in the form of repayable loans, will be made available through the Enterprises North Job Creation Program to eligible new and existing enterprises involved in the following sectors:
- Agriculture
- Mining
- Forest products
- Resource-based, cultural, adventure and nature-based tourism
- Manufacturing
- Technology
- Processing
- Telecommunications
- Other business activities that will strengthen the Northern Ontario economy.

Generally, enterprises will receive funding based on the number of full-time jobs created in Northern Ontario, with a maximum contribution to any one project of 50 per cent of eligible capital costs up to $1 million.

Eligible costs would include such items as capital construction costs related to business expansion or establishment, leasehold improvements, purchase of equipment, intellectual capital, and other capital investments that result in job creation in Northern Ontario.

NORTHERN ONTARIO YOUTH INTERNSHIP AND CO-OP PROGRAM

The new Northern Ontario Youth Internship and Co-op Program, part of the refocused Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC), will help young northerners make the transition from school to the workplace.

Both private sector and public sector employers (for example, municipal governments, First Nations and not-for-profit corporations) are eligible under this program. Eligible applicants must be involved in health care, social services, value-added manufacturing, telecommunications, biotechnology, emerging technologies, environmental sciences and other activities that will result in an economic development advantage for Northern Ontario.

The program will provide conditional contributions toward the wages of northern post-secondary students aged 29 and under.

NORTHERN ONTARIO YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR PROGRAM

Under the refocused Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC), young northerners can take advantage of a Northern Ontario Young Entrepreneur Program to develop their business skills and start their own full-time businesses.

Residents of Northern Ontario aged 18 to 29 can apply for assistance with the capital costs of business start-up. Funding will be a conditional contribution (financial assistance that does not need to be repaid, provided certain conditions are satisfied), generally of up to 85 per cent of eligible costs to a maximum of $25,000 per project.

At the time of approval, the young entrepreneur must also invest in the business by making a cash equity contribution to the business equal to 10 per cent of the NOHFC conditional contribution. Each enterprise is expected to create at least one new full-time job in the North.

The proponent will have to complete a business plan as part of the application to the NOHFC. Then, following the first year of operation, approved applicants will submit a report outlining the economic benefits of their project, including revenues and job creation.

SMALL BUSINESS ENERGY CONSERVATION PROGRAM

The refocused Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) will help small business owners conserve energy and reduce their demand on external energy sources.

Small and medium-sized businesses in the office and hospitality sectors can apply through the NOHFC’s Small Business Energy Conservation Program for assistance of up to 50 per cent of eligible costs for energy retrofit planning, energy retrofit projects and new internal energy generation projects.

Funding assistance for energy retrofit planning and energy retrofit projects is offered in co-operation with Natural Resources Canada, and is meant to supplement any assistance received from the corresponding federal programs. NOHFC applicants must first apply to the federal government and attach copies of their federal applications and approval letters from Natural Resources Canada to their NOHFC application.

EMERGING TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM

The new Emerging Technology Program of the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) supports innovative initiatives and demonstration projects that will create jobs and economic growth in Northern Ontario.

Both public sector proponents and individual businesses are eligible for assistance.

Under Public Sector Emerging Technology, the program will consider projects proposed by partnerships and alliances consisting of municipalities, private sector businesses and organizations, the federal government and other government-related agencies acting together. Municipalities, First Nations, not-for-profit corporations and educational institutions may apply individually. Projects must be located in Northern Ontario.

INFRASTRUCTURE AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

The new Infrastructure and Community Development Program of the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) encourages partnerships that find effective ways to create jobs and improve economic prospects in the North through improvements to infrastructure.

Applicants may include partnerships and alliances comprising municipalities, private sector businesses and organizations, the federal government and other government-related agencies acting together. Municipalities, First Nations, not-for-profit corporations and educational institutions may apply individually for assistance. Projects must be located in Northern Ontario.