The provincial government handed over a Trillium Grant for $330,000 to Innovation Initiatives Ontario North, or better known as IION, which is based out of Canadore College's Commerce Court Campus.
The announcement came down at MPP Vic Fedeli’s constituency office on Jan. 10. Fedeli said the program has earned the big paycheque.
“They create a lot of jobs with a tiny amount of money,” said Fedeli.
“It is the personal attention that their key staff (provide) and the attention they give to the individual entrepreneurs, and they have really got a winning formula.”
The funding over three years will be used to expand the entrepreneurship program, which provides work placement and mentorship opportunities. The program is geared toward helping Northerners become entrepreneurs and is hopeful of creating 60 full-time opportunities in the next three years.
“There are many examples of young people that have gone on to start companies so that is part of the story,” said IION's executive director, Rob Deline.
This story originally appeared on BayToday.ca.
