Local projects making an impact in Northern and rural Ontario

Proponent: The City of Greater Sudbury SportLink
To encourage local sports tourism, Greater Sudbury SportLink hosted its first annual “Guts and Glory” conference, featuring four-time Olympian, Sharon Firth, as keynote speaker. SportLink is a non-profit organization that works closely with local sports organizations and businesses to promote sports-based economic development. A FedNor investment of $1,000 assisted with the “Guts and Glory” conference.

Proponent: Partners in Eco-Adventure Tourism Association
Eco-tourism operators from across the region participated in roundtable discussions, workshops and visited several eco-adventure businesses in the Sudbury area. Organized by the Partners in Eco-Adventure Tourism Association, and supported by a FedNor investment of $2,500, the event helped promote the development of eco-tourism in the North.

Proponent: Sudbury & Manitoulin Workforce Partnerships Board
The Sudbury & Manitoulin Workforce Partnerships Board recently hosted the Emerging Leaders Seminar, “Dream. Dare. Do.” Supported by a $5,000 FedNor investment, the conference featured motivational speakers, a workforce development panel and the "40 Under Forty" awards celebrating local business leaders under the age of 40.

Proponent: Ontario Prospectors Association
The Ontario Prospectors Association is hosting a two-day Ontario Exploration & Geoscience Symposium in Sudbury on December 13 and 14, 2006. Expected to attract between 350 - 500 delegates, this is the first time the symposium has been held North of Toronto since 2001. A FedNor contribution of $1,500 will go complete a delegate package for participants.

Proponent: Northern Ontario Business Limited
The annual Influential Women of Northern Ontario Awards program, sponsored by Northern Ontario Business, recently launched a new initiative to increase its reach to young women in the North. Northern Ontario secondary school students were invited to attend three award ceremonies, where they learned from and celebrated the North’s most influential women. A FedNor investment of $6,000 allowed young women from across the North to attend the ceremonies.

Proponent: Ontario’s Sunset Country Travel Association
Ontario’s Sunset Country Travel Association is producing and marketing an interactive DVD to promote vacation opportunities in the Kenora region. The DVD will provide detailed travel information to target markets, in an effort to attract more visitors to the region. FedNor contributed $28,859 to the project.

Proponent: Patricia Area Community Endeavours Inc.
Patricia Area Community Endeavours Inc. will receive a FedNor contribution of $50,000 to support a variety of local, small-scale, economic development projects in the Dryden region. The Dryden-based organization is one of 61 Community Futures Development Corporations in Northern and rural Ontario funded by FedNor’s Community Futures Program.

Proponent: Lake of the Woods Business Incentive Corporation
Lake of the Woods Business Incentive Corporation will receive a FedNor contribution of $50,000 to support a variety of local, small-scale, economic development projects in the region. The Kenora-based organization is one of 61 Community Futures Development Corporations in Northern and rural Ontario funded by FedNor’s Community Futures Program.

Proponent: Porcupine Ski Runners Inc.
Porcupine Ski Runners is constructing a Nordic Centre on its property three kilometres east of downtown Timmins to meet increasing demands for use of its trail system. FedNor funding of $43,100 will be used for engineering and architectural costs.

Proponent: MoCreebec Non-Profit Development Corporation
The Cree Village Eco-Lodge, operated through the MoCreebec Non-Profit Development Corporation, will use a $20,000 FedNor investment to enhance its services and identify new opportunities to expand its clientele. The Lodge has been in operation on Moose Factory Island for over five years.

Proponent: Town of Smooth Rock Falls
The town will evaluate the long-term land use needs of businesses in the area and the costs of setting up an industrial park. FedNor is providing $29,250 for the feasibility study.

Proponent: Deer Trail Studio Tour
Each September, some of Northern Ontario's best-known artists display their works in various host locations along the scenic Deer Trail Touring Route. The Deer Trail Studio Tour had its best year in 2006 attracting over 2,000 guests to the Elliot Lake area. FedNor support of $12,270 helped the organization promote the fall tour..

Proponent: The Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities
The Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities hosted a three-day conference entitled, “Sustaining the North - Embracing the Challenge." The event focussed on various areas of interest to Northeastern Ontario and included a trade show. A FedNor investment of $5,125 helped the organization with marketing and promotional costs.

Proponent: City of North Bay
From a modest one-day event in 1986, the North Bay Heritage Festival has grown into one of Northern Ontario’s top tourism events. Attracting guests from across the North, this four-day festival was recently voted one of the top 50 events in Ontario by Festivals and Events Ontario. Supported by a FedNor investment of $26,000, the City of North Bay launched a comprehensive marketing campaign to boost attendance and promote the 20th anniversary of the Festival.

Proponent: Rainy River FDC
The Rainy River Future Development Corporation is developing a business operating plan for a new abattoir. The Fort Frances-based organization – one of 61 organizations in Northern and rural Ontario funded by FedNor's Community Futures Program – will receive a FedNor contribution of $30,000 for the study, which will evaluate optional sites and building design.

Proponent: Municipality of Greenstone
The Municipality of Greenstone is looking to encourage industrial development in the region. A FedNor contribution of $60,000 will be used to conduct an environmental assessment, public consultations and a cost benefit analysis for a proposed new industrial park.

Proponent: Mattawa Historic Society
FedNor funding of $10,000 will help the Mattawa Historical Society establish and promote a major new event celebrating First Nations. Called, A Cultural Gathering – Celebrating the Legacy of Anahareo, the event will be held the third week of June each year.

Proponent: Thunder Bay Ventures
Thunder Bay Ventures will receive a FedNor contribution of $100,000 to support a number of community economic development projects in the area for the next two years. As one of 61 Community Futures Development Corporations in Northern and rural Ontario, Thunder Bay Ventures helps develop and diversify the local and regional economy through community strategic planning, business counselling and investment in small business.

Thunder Bay Ventures Board Member, Barb D'Silva, and Manager, Royden Potvin, take a break from their day-long meeting in Atikokan with FedNor Director General, Louise Paquette (centre).

Proponent: Corporation of the Town of Mattawa
The Town of Mattawa is developing a comprehensive marketing campaign to attract would-be travellers to the region. A FedNor investment of $33,500 will go towards the project, allowing the community to pursue economic development opportunities in the tourism sector and enhance existing tourism events.

Proponent: Chukuni CFDC
The Chukuni Communities Development Corporation in Red Lake is one of 61 CFDCs in Northern and rural Ontario funded by FedNor’s Community Futures Program. A FedNor contribution of $50,000 will be directed to fund a variety of small-scale, economic development projects in the community.

Proponent: Town of Hearst
A group of local stakeholders in Hearst, including municipal officials, the Economic Development Corporation and plant employees, are working to ensure the long-term viability of the Town's particle board plant. A FedNor investment of $25,000 assisted with an engineering study that is expected to demonstrate how technological enhancements to the plant, coupled with the introduction of new products, will allow the company to access new markets and enhance profitability.

Proponent: Town of Cochrane
The Town of Cochrane is developing a five-year strategic plan aimed at diversifying and growing the local economy. FedNor funding of $17,250 will help the Town identify specific economic development opportunities in the community, develop action plans for each and recommend community leadership and potential partners for their implementation.

Proponent: Island Falls Forestry
This First Nation forestry company is undertaking a corporate review, which will lead to the development of a five year business plan. A FedNor investment of $49,853 will help hire a consultant who will guide the company through the restructuring exercise, and then develop a business plan that will outline strategies designed to grow the company over the next five years.

Proponent: Greenstone Economic Development Corporation
FedNor funding of $50,000 will assist the Greenstone Economic Development Corporation (GEDC) support a number of smaller community economic development projects in the area. As one of 61 Community Futures Development Corporations serving Northern and rural Ontario, the GEDC helps develop and diversify the local and regional economy through community strategic planning, business counselling and investment in small business.

Proponent: Sudbury-Manitoulin Children's Foundation
The Sudbury-Manitoulin Children's Foundation will use a FedNor investment of $4000 to translate marketing and promotional materials, as well as surveys and job postings into French, in an effort to expand its bilingual services and ensure broad participation from the Francophone community.

Proponent: The Township of Central Manitoulin
This past summer, the Township of Central Manitoulin launched a marketing campaign promoting Manitoulin Island onboard the Chi-Cheemaun ferry during the peak tourism season. Thanks to a FedNor investment of $9,000, the campaign was a great success, featuring promotional videos, performances and interactive activities for passengers that included music, storytelling and First Nations dances.

Proponent: Municipality of West Nipissing
A Farmers' Market in downtown Sturgeon Falls will assist farmers from West Nipissing to promote agriculture by providing a venue for producers/vendors to sell their products in a neighbourly atmosphere. A FedNor contribution of $19,926 to the Municipality of West Nipissing will fund part of the market's tent structure, site preparation and marketing and promotional items.

Proponent: Municipality of St. Charles
A consultant will be hired to develop a strong strategic plan for the Municipality of St. Charles. The plan – supported by a $24,450 FedNor investment – will examine long-term employment opportunities, community promotion and the potential for new development.

Proponent: Municipality of Powassan
In an effort to prioritize the future development needs of the Municipality of Powassan, a community strategic plan and operational review is being completed with a FedNor investment of $14,000. The final plan will include a community profile and economic analysis, human resource and training requirements, and a five-year municipal priorities and projects list.

Proponent: Town of Kirkland Lake
A comprehensive community economic development strategic plan is being created to guide the economic and community development of the town of Kirkland Lake. A FedNor contribution of $28,589 will assist in the Town's efforts to hire a consultant to produce the plan, which is being developed in cooperation with a number of community partners including the Kirkland Lake District Chamber of Commerce and the Kirkland District Community Development Corporation.