Almost two years after announcing that Global Sticks was coming to the Thunder Bay area , the British Columbia-based wood products manufacturer is now open for business.
The grand opening took place May 20 at an Ontario government press conference in the Township of Oliver Paipoonge, west of Thunder Bay.
With more than $6.2 million in start-up money promised from the province since 2009, Thunder Bay-Atikokan MPP Bill Mauro said the plant is creating 130 manufacturing jobs.
“Global Sticks represents a diversification of the wood products industry in northwestern Ontario and will provide tax base support to the residents of Oliver Paipoonge.”
The plant will make wooden sticks used for ice cream bars, corn dogs, tongue depressors and paint paddles.
No mention was made in the government press release of where Global Sticks will source its wood. Previously, the government said the factory will use northern white birch, a species considered underutilized by the forestry industry.
Last week's grand opening included a $1.32 million cheque from the province's Northern Ontario Heritage Fund (NOHFC).
In September 2009, the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund invested $1.22 million in the venture while the province's Forest Sector Prosperity Fund provided a $787,000 grant and forest sector loan guarantee program offered a $2.9 million loan.
The money is for the costs of machinery and equipment at the plant.
In a statement, company president Reggie Nukovic said, “Global Sticks and its value-added manufacturing process will continue to make investments and further expansion at the new plant and the region of Northern Ontario.”
Global Sticks was formed through a merger of two companies with American, Danish and British Columbia investors. These companies had previously been sourcing sticks from China.
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