CanBio Conference Thunder Bay Ontario – BioNorth Technologies Group Inc Annoucement. From left, Jeff McGirr – Mattawa-Bonfield Economic Development Corp Frank Benincasa – President BioNorth Technologies Group Inc, Dawn Lambe – Biomass Innovation Centre. Submitted photo.
The old Tembec plant in Mattawa has been sold and a new biotechnology company is setting up shop.
BioNorth Technologies will utilize the 137 acre industrial property located on highway 17 in Mattawa.
The facility infrastructure includes over 80,000 square feet of indoor manufacturing space as well as several other key infrastructure components related to the operations.
“This is really good news”, said Nipissing-Timiskaming MP Jay Aspin.
“They are focusing on biogas for the mining sector, so they’ll be closer to the mines,” Aspin added.
Aspin says the company previously was located in Concord, just north of Toronto.
BioNorth has identified a range of technologies that can create economic development and employment opportunities in the region.
The group plans to exploit the existing experienced labour pool drawing on over 100 years of fiber related manufacturing experience.
Bob Corriveau is the mayor of Papineau-Cameron Township where the plant is located and chairman of the Mattawa-Bonfield Economic Development Corporation. (MBEDC)
“This has been my pet project,” Corriveau told BayToday.
“I’m very excited about this. I was impressed they bought the site even though they didn’t have wood allocation.”
Corriveau says that will be the key challenge for the company--- getting enough wood.
“There’s enough in the immediate area for a small project, but to do all the things they want they’ll have to go further afield like Temagami and Parry Sound."
Corriveau says the owners come from various countries, with the main ones from Italy.
The company is spearheaded by Frank Benincasa, a former executive in the construction industry turned biodiesel entrepreneur.
Jeff McGirr, Director of Economic Development for MBEDC said “BioNorth Technologies Group is a logical fit that will position the community strategically into the future. Our region was devastated by the loss of several hundred jobs in 2009. This announcement marks the constant ambition of the local communities to build a sustainable, prosperous economic future.”
Officials don’t know yet how many new jobs will be created.
