Provincial funding of $1.4 million announced on Jan. 28 means construction can now go ahead on a new, 27-acre industrial park in Smooth Rock Falls.
Located on the site of the former Tembec mill, which closed permanently in 2006, the park will comprise 12 lots, each of which will be graded and come with paved road access; lots will be ready to connect to utilities at the lot line.
“We are very excited about this announcement as the industrial park will provide the infrastructure necessary to set up businesses and attract new businesses and jobs to Smooth Rock Falls,” the town said in a public statement.
“The development of the industrial park will also allow the town to improve water circulation to the northwestern part of town.”
Lots will be sold through a public bidding process once they’re released starting this spring.
In 2017, the town made headlines when it announced a suite of incentives, including inexpensive land and tax breaks, designed to attract newcomers to the town.
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The funding announcement was one of four, worth $2.8 million, made by the province on Jan. 28.
In total, the projects are expected to create 18 jobs. The others are:
- $898,965 for Pineland Contracting Ltd. in Moonbeam to expand its round-wood harvesting capacity;
- $459,000 for the Town of Hearst to build Espace Hearst Place, a permanent event pavilion and stage, outdoor plaza and parking area; and
- $90,450 for G Nolet Trucking in Moonbeam to purchase a truck, trailer and tools to provide transportation services to the forestry industry in the area.
"We will continue to support promising projects like these that diversify our economy and develop strong, vibrant communities across the North," said David Smith, parliamentary assistant to Northern Development Minister Greg Rickford, in a Jan. 28 news release.
"With these investments, we are reinforcing the North's competitive advantage and sending a signal to the world that Northern Ontario is open for business and open for jobs."
Since June 2018, the province said the NOHFC has invested more than $148 million in 1,073 projects in Northern Ontario. This has leveraged more than $699 million in investment and created or retained 3,116 jobs.
