Creating sustainable, recession-proof jobs is the focus of the Township of Manitouwadge.
The former northwestern Ontario mining town plans to build on what natural assets they have and sink their teeth into some new opportunities to jump-start the local economy.
When the last of two major operating mines closed in 2005, the municipality of 2,300 promoted itself as a retirement town to fill up the plethora of vacant company housing.
Manitouwadge is progressing beyond that in a big way.
There was a major community clean-up project which included the demolition of several older buildings to position the community for future development.
This made residential and commercial properties serviced by municipal water and sewer available for potential developments.
The township is looking for property developers to bring business to the community.
Through a joint venture with Marathon and Pic River First Nation, the township intends to harvest wood from the Big Pic forest unit.
Manitouwadge hopes it's a much-needed springboard to start supplying wood to area mills and sell it on the open market to new partners.
Securing that fibre means jobs at local operations such as B & M Hauling and has allowed the city to lure in other logging contractors as well.
The communities are part of a pilot project for Ontario's larger wood tenure reforms and will have some level of influence on forest management planning and securing markets.
Mining and mineral exploration remains a relevant industry. Manitouwadge is located in gold country and about 100 residents regularly commute to jobs at Barrick Gold in the Hemlo camp.
The township has purchased a Beep Mat for any prospectors in the area to use for a minimal fee of $1 per day. This piece of equipment has been used on numerous occasions and it's hoped it will bring a new mineral find within the area.
A unique future area of growth is international education.
The township has struck a relationship with a partner company in China.
Canadabridge Education Inc., a subsidiary of Zhengzhou Bridge Educational Consulting, wants to bring high school-aged students to town to learn English as a second language and have them soak up small town Canadian life in preparation for post-secondary studies.
The plan is for the students to stay for a year and absorb Canadian culture while taking preparatory classes such as in business administration and finance.
Together with Confederation College and the local public school board, the township hopes to fill seats at their underutilized high school with hundreds of new students.
It may open more doors for distance education opportunities and could create a welcoming atmosphere for future Chinese investment.
The airport is certainly a growth area with $100,000 invested into new weather and GPS systems, an upgraded lighting runway and a new hangar to open the door for a possible charter flight service.
For inquiries contact the Town of Manitouwadge Economic Development Office at 1-877-826-PLAY.
