A new, $8-million hotel, innovative welding equipment and an economic participation plan for Métis people and businesses are amongst the applications for more than $1.8 million in federal funding for the Timmins region.
Funding comes from FedNor’s Northern Ontario Development Program.
The Town of Kirkland Lake will use $490,500 to prepare land for the new, 80-room hotel that will create employment for up to 30 people. Another $437,500 will be used to retrofit the civic stadium community park into a year-round, multi-use facility to accommodate event-based tourism such as trade shows, concerts and sports tournaments.
The Timmins Economic Development Corp. will receive $444,418 to create an innovation and productivity centre. The centre will support entrepreneurs with small and medium-sized enterprises in the Timmins region.
The Materials Joining Innovation Centre (MaJIC) in Kirkland Lake will use $100,000 to purchase new equipment, renovate its lab and implement a marketing plan.
In Cochrane, $184,750 will go towards four separate initiatives, including workforce attraction strategies, the hiring of two youth interns, and the development of an economic development strategic plan.
NEOnet will use $40,000 to deploy broadband internet in the Matachewan First Nation.
The Abitibi-Temiscamingue Métis Development Corp. will use $38,250 to develop an economic participation plan for Métis people and businesses in the region.
Funding of $31,500 will help the Kirkland Lake Chamber of Commerce hire a business support youth intern for one year to help with economic development initiatives.
The Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund will also hire a youth intern with $27,500 to encourage Aboriginal people in the Timmins area to embrace entrepreneurship.
La Caisse Populaire de Timmins will use $25,000 to hire an intern to update the organization’s website, create a social media presence, and review the organization’s internal information and communications technology practices and procedures.
