NOHFC invests nearly $2 million in the area in just 24 hours

Nipissing MPP Monique Smith shares a laugh with Minister Northern Development and Mines Michael Gravelle and Jack Burrows Friday at Jack Garland Airport.


It has been a whirlwind visit for Minister Northern Development and Mines and NOHFC Chair Michael Gravelle and board members of the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation as in just over 24 hours they managed to invest a substantial sum of money in the area.

“I am very excited that we had the NOHFC Board here for the past 28 hours and we’ve seen almost $2 million of investment in the community announced over the last two days,” states Tourism Minister and Nipissing MPP Monique Smith.

Thursday afternoon the group, hosted by local NOHFC Board member and former Mayor of North Bay Jack Borrows, toured Rotacan and announced a $1.5 million loan for J.N.D. Holdings to build a 30,000-square foot addition to the existing complex.

Following the tour the board had a tour of the city which concluded with a reception hosted by Canadore College and Nipissing University where the NOHFC announced $333,000 for the Nipissing University’s first Forest Bioproducts Research Chair.

“We obviously felt that the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund was put in place as an economic development fund for the north ... it was needed, and deserved, and it was determined that we should have one it’s more important than ever now there’s no question about it,” states Gravelle.

“It is also a good experience for our board members to come to the community, the full board, and get around to see some of the projects that we have successfully supported. There are I think there are 22 projects over the last several years to the tune of about $14 million in the city of North Bay and area around North Bay which again shows the value of that this has been helping to create jobs obviously creating opportunities.”

As a parting gift to wrap up their visit in the Gateway City the NOHFC announced it is providing an additional $112,270 through its Infrastructure and Community Development Program toward an infrastructure expansion project at Jack Garland Airport today.

“Today’s announcement is for about $112,000 which brings the total investment of the Province in the Airport Project to $441,000,” states Smith.

“And it’s to help with the infrastructure at the airport open up 4 new lots for development for new businesses to set up and will create access to the Gateway Helicopter new hanger that they are in the process of building.”

“So to be able to come to a community like North Bay to make the kind of positive announcement we’ve made ... clearly makes a difference particularly in these more troubling times so this is always good news,“ notes Gravelle.

“Obviously as chair of the fund and a colleague of Monique Smith we all worked there very hard to promote the Heritage Fund as an opportunity vehicle for economic development and we couldn’t have a better example than the past 24 hours here in North Bay,” he adds.

The funds will help with the building a 360-metre paved road with associated sewer, water, electrical, telecommunication, natural gas and lighting services.