A Kenora wood products company has received $1.2 million from the province to buy, renovate and equip an industrial building to make modular homes for First Nation communities.
The company is a partnership between Wabaseemoong Independent Nation and Moncrief Construction of Kenora.
Half of the plant's 20-person full-time workforce come from the First Nation communities of One Man Lake, Swan Lake and Whitedog. When fully operational, Wincrief will employ 40 and will build 40 homes annually.
The company also plans to manufacture untreated wood poles for utility companies and log home manufacturers.
More than $700,000 for this initiative is coming through Northern Ontario Heritage Fund and the Forest Sector Prosperity Fund along with an additional $500,000 loan.
"This business will supply some of the highest quality of homes to the region,” said Wincrief CEO Greg Moncrief. “We are taking advantage of the skilled workforce that exists in the local First Nation communities to work with skilled tradesmen. This fall we plan to start up our utility pole plant, creating more jobs both in the plant and in our local forests.”
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