Province drops $4.4M on Timmins, Hearst-area projects

From horses to heavy equipment, 15 projects through the Timmins and Hearst areas are receiving a combined $4.4-million investment through the province's Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corp.

One of the recipients is the City of Timmins, which is receiving $1.8 million to launch a geographic information system project in collaboration with 17 area municipalities. The electronic database is designed to modernize municipal land records and improve access to information to help attract new investment.

Funding through the Northern Ontario Entrepreneur Program is providing $154,000 between the new Hearst-based Solar Power Solutions and the Timmins-based Advanteck Inc. The former is a supplier, installer and servicer of solar power and thermal systems, as well as wind turbine units, while the latter is a vehicle and heavy equipment monitoring service.

Nine new small businesses by young entrepreneurs are also sharing $211,635. These include Kapuskasing's K&A Quarter Horses, an equine breeding facility; Hearst's Info Tech, a computer and cable installation and repair operation and Timmins' Ace Blasting Restorations, a mobile soda cleaning service.