Timmins’ Productivity and Innovation Centre (PIC) has helped more than 30 small and medium-sized Northern Ontario businesses with more than $100,000 over the last year.
Launched in 2014, the PIC provides up to 80 per cent in funding for businesses to be assessed by qualified business consultants. The report generated will make recommendations on how the business can become more productive.
The PIC can then provide an additional 80 per cent of the costs to implement changes to make the business more efficient. Improvements can include equipment modernization, developing and implementing an ICT strategy, and workforce training.
The goal is to increase revenues and strengthen Northern businesses.
Brenda Hagerty, president at Porcupine Canvas in Schumacher, called the program an “invaluable resource.”
“With the help from the knowledgeable staff, we have been able to get our productivity assessment as well as our technology assessment report completed,” she said in a release. “This would not have been achieved without the funding that was provided.”
Porcupine Canvas, which manufactures canvas products for mining and other industries, is now working toward its ISO compliance to grow the business, Hagerty said.
PIC is part of the Ontario Network of Entrepreneurs (ONE), and is supported by FedNor, NOHFC, Timmins Economic Development Corporation, NEOnet, and other partners.
