An aquaculture operation, a family dairy farm, and an African-Caribbean bakery are among 25 Northern Ontario recipients of $5 million in provincial funding.
Northern Development Minister Greg Rickford made the announcement of Northern Ontario Heritage Funds on March 9.
“Our government recognizes the importance and significance of local food sources for personal well-being and economic growth,” Rickford said in a news release. “We are providing northerners access to healthy food options and cultivating business development, diversification and prosperity in the food industry across the northeast.”
Projects receiving NOHFC funding include:
- $754,775 for Manitoulin Trout Farms Inc., located in Little Current, to purchase new cages and nets;
- $328,520 for Local Food and Farm Co-ops, operating out of Markstay-Warren, to administer its Healthy Food Distribution North initiative to improve access to healthy regionally produced food in Northern Ontario;
- $250,744 for Oshadenah Holsteins, a dairy farm located in Tehkummah, to purchase equipment, build a new barn, renovate its existing barn and construct a manure storage pit;
- $114,530 to establish Gorham Farms, a poultry and beef cattle farm in McKerrow; and
- $106,118 to establish Ije’s Place, an African and Caribbean commercial bakery in Desbarats.
Since 2018, the NOHFC has provided more than $473 million to fund 4,244 projects in Northern Ontario, which has leveraged $1.5 billion in investment and created or sustained 6,600 jobs.
