The Northern Ontario Recovery Program has been launched by the province for businesses to get funding to help with COVID-19 related projects.

Minister of Energy, Northern Development and Mines Greg Rickford (pictured) says it involves $20 million from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund.

He says businesses in the north can apply for up to $25,000 in grants.

“It’s intended to provide targeted funding that will allow businesses to fund the necessary upgrades as we adapt to what everybody is calling a ‘new normal’ or ‘new reality’,” he says.

Applications will be accepted between this Thursday and December 31st in a variety of areas, including:
– Building renovations and new construction
– Customer and employee safety installations
– Equipment purchases, including personal protective equipment (PPE)
– Marketing for new business initiatives
– Restructuring of business operations

Nipissing MPP and Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade Minister Vic Fedeli says this is good news for the region.

“Whether it’s large or small, urban or rural, these projects that you will be assisting are going to stimulate the recovery, growth, job creation, add to our skilled workforce, everything we need to make the north grow,” Fedeli says.

“This is great news for the Northern Ontario business community. The Northern Chamber Caucus (North Bay, Timmins, Sudbury, Sault Ste. Marie and Thunder Bay) has been advocating for additional help and NOHFC has delivered,” says Peter Chirico, CEO, North Bay and District Chamber of Commerce. “This funding announcement may mean the difference for many businesses in the north, who have weathered the past six months and need to get through the next six months. Thank you for listening and taking action.”

Rickford also says a new-look Northern Ontario Heritage Fund will be launched in the new year.

The new program will make it easier for more people and businesses to apply and support more projects in rural northern communities, it will target both existing and emerging market opportunities, provide more opportunities for Indigenous people and businesses and address the skilled labour shortage in the north.

“To do this on September 30th we will wind down all NOHFC existing programs to focus exclusively on the Northern Ontario Recovery Program,” Rickford says.

For more information on the Northern Ontario Recovery Program (NORP) check out the NOHFC website.

 

(Photo above from today’s virtual announcement)

Filed under: Northern Ontario Economic Recovery Plan