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Province shells out $2.8M for business development in Thunder Bay

NOHFC funds will be used to increase operational capacity, boost economy
maintair_aviation_services
Maintair Aviation Services is one of 16 recipients to share in business development money from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corp.

Sixteen Thunder Bay-area projects are being funded with more than $2.8 million by the province, ranging from new aircraft technology to med-tech to forestry equipment.

The Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corp. announced the funds April 28. The funds are expected to help recipients increase operational capacity and boost the local economy.

The NOHFC is funding the following projects:

  • $400,000 for KBM Resources Group to purchase light detection and ranging (LiDAR) equipment and aircraft to expand operations in remote sensing and field and technical services; $240,916 to purchase information and communications technology to expand geophysical survey services across the energy and utilities, forestry, mining and road infrastructure sectors; and $64,620 for flight training equipment to start offering flight training services that will help fill a growing need for professional development opportunities for commercial pilots in Northwestern Ontario;
  • $387,000 for Mileage Auto Plus – a full-service vehicle repair and maintenance facility specializing in commercial vehicles in the telecommunications and hydro expansion in Northwestern Ontario – to increase capacity to service larger and more vehicles;
  • $292,232 for EvergreenRx KB Inc. to expand its building footprint at its Kakabeka Falls pharmacy to have enough space for administering immunizations, blood pressure kiosks and additional computer workstations and to meet new ventilation and other standards set by the National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities (NAPRA);
  • $282,500 for Harris Timber to purchase a new processor that will increase business capacity by allowing the company to cut to length instead of only tree-length wood;
  • $246,200 for Loch Lomond Equipment Sales Ltd. – a company specializing in equipment for ice road construction – to build additional workshop and storage space to expand operations supporting winter roads important for transporting supplies to Indigenous communities not accessible by road in the spring, summer and fall;
  • $210,544 for C&M Tile and Granites to enhance production capacity and introduce new and advanced digital production equipment into manufacturing granite, marble and quartz products for the home improvement and construction industry with community resources and volunteers;
  • $200,000 for First Response Mental Health to develop the “Bridges Community Connection” system, a digital tool connecting long-term care residents and those requiring day-to-day personal care support;
  • $122,750 for Chinook Biochemical Inc. to develop and commercialize a mechanical ventilator unit that can treat patients in acute hypoxemic respiratory failure;
  • $121,000 for M. Morin Logging Inc. to purchase fuel-efficient equipment that will increase production and help save on fuel, maintenance and repair costs;
  • $111,000 for P&S Slashing – a logging contractor – to purchase equipment that will increase harvesting capacity in Northwestern Ontario;
  • $98,300 for Maintair Aviation Services Ltd. to purchase equipment to expand operations;
  • $29,201 for Balmoral Dental Designs Ltd. to expand its Thunder Bay facility to keep current with industry standards, reduce outsourcing costs and improve the overall efficiency;
  • $18,540 for CSL Environmental Geotechnical Ltd. to invest in survey equipment and information and communications technology to fulfill larger jobs and enhance service delivery; and
  • $11,500 for Makkinga Logging Ltd. to purchase a grapple skidder to create additional harvesting capacity.