A consortium of local geographic information system companies from across the Algoma district has teamed up and won a contract to provide GIS services in the region's north end.
Wilderness GIS from Wawa, Cree-Tech of Chapleau and Pensink Technologies from Sault Ste. Marie with expertise supplied by the Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre will provide GIS to the Townships of Michipicoten, Chapleau, Dubreilville, White River and Hornepayne.
The contract opportunity came from a successful application made by the townships to the MNR under their GeoSmart porgram. The municipalities were awarded a $480,000 grant. During the one-year project, the Innovation Centre will provide some training, mentoring and consultation to these companies on municipal GIS.
"Without the knowledge transfer from the Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre, none of us could have seriously bid on this project," says Rob Brewer, division manager of Wilderness GIS.
"In our area, jobs are few and far between right now. We are happy to be able to sustain our businesses and also create several new high tech jobs."
