The towns of Hearst and Kapuskasing are drawing up economic development road maps to attract new investment and diversify their forestry-dependent economies.
Creating knowledge clusters is the aim behind a federally funded community development research project being shepherded in northeastern Ontario by Collège Boréal.
The Sudbury-based post-secondary institution is helping develop action plans in each town to examine the value-added wood potential in Hearst and biotechnology opportunities in Kapuskasing.
Bernard Lafrenière, a commercial affairs consultant with the college’s STICO centre, says the pilot project, sponsored by the Association of Canadian Community Colleges, is a means to develop “capacity-building” in communities where the college operates. Boréal has satellite campuses in both Hearst and Kapuskasing.
The idea is to help the region take full advantage of the wood-based value chain by making a transition from a commodity-based forest industry to a value-added one.
The national project is being funded by the Rural Secretariat of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.
A similar project is underway at the College of the Rockies. It aims to develop a knowledge cluster model to diversify the East Kootenay. B.C. region in developing that area’s tourism industry. Another at Nova Scotia Community College will delve into geomatics.
Boréal is acting as facilitator for the community-run projects by pulling together a round table of representatives from local business, economic development, various funding agencies, research and development groups and other stakeholders into site committees.
“The idea is to bring this wealth of knowledge together and transfer it to the community and transfer it to investors so they can take action on opportunities identified by research and development agencies,” says Lafrenière.
Hearst has already had some initial success with a fledgling start-up company launched in September.
Earlier this year, Industries LacWood Inc. struck a deal with international furniture-maker Ikea to manufacture bed frames and shelving components. They are building a 15,000-square-foot mill in nearby Hallebourg.
The plant uses softwood feed stock from lower grade wood and short lengths of spruce lumber from area saw mills.
Hearst’s strategy is to create a value-added wood product manufacturing cluster.
“We all know communities are suffering because of the softwood lumber crisis,” says Lafrenière. “These communities have been looking at different options in terms of
diversifying their economies to move away from primary forestry sector.”
In Kapuskasing, a Quebec-based biotechnology company, Cyclofor, has been recruited for a project using forest biomass for co-generation.
For Collège Boréal, Lafrenière says the project is an opportunity to forge new partnerships with business and develop some ideas for programming.
“As the site committees determine opportunities for new business, the college will adapt or develop to ensure the local workforce is capable of responding to business needs that evolve as the project moves along.”
