Sault Ste. Marie

By Pauline Clark Sault area businesses unable to access traditional funding sources for growth opportunities have been able to take advantage of the services of a community investment program for the past few years.

By Ian Ross Strategic visions and grant programs have not worked in diversifying and stimulating the North's economy.

By Ken Sitter Steve Colombo built a better mousetrap and is waiting for the world to beat a path to his door, or rather the Ontario Forest Research Institute's door in Sault Ste. Marie.

By Katherine Thompson Nelson They play games based on popular television shows like Survivor and Who Wants to be a Millionaire? Last month they ventured to a casino.

The East Algoma Community Futures Development Corp., in conjunction with Brent St.

Sault Ste. Marie's Innovation Centre may approach the city for help in paying a $325,000 consultant's bill from EDS Canada.

Sault College and Bell Canada officials opened a $325,000-training centre in late November. The centre is located in the downtown Bell building and classes for the seven-week customer service/call centre representative training program began Nov. 26.

With call centre growth in Sault Ste. Marie expected to create 2,000 new representative jobs over the next two years, Sault College has introduced a call centre representative program this month to train workers for this rapidly growing industry.

St. Mary's Paper Ltd. is holding off on a multimillion-dollar investment into a state-of-the-art paper machine until slumping economic conditions turn around, company officials say.

Sault Ste. Marie's industrial marketing strategy received a $260,000-kick-start from the provincial government, through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund, during a Nov. 1 visit to the city by Premier Mike Harris.