Ontario Supporting Economic Development Opportunities in Fort Frances Region

Province investing in community growth and business expansion in Northwestern Ontario

FORT FRANCES – The Ontario government is providing more than $1.4 million through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) to five economic development projects in the Fort Frances region. This investment will improve municipal infrastructure, promote tourism and recreation, expand company operations and create jobs in the Northwest.

“Since modernizing the NOHFC program, our government has invested in more municipal infrastructure, tourism and recreation, and business expansion projects in the North than ever before,” said Greg Rickford, Minister of Northern Development and Member of Provincial Parliament for Kenora–Rainy River. “We recognize that the targeted investments we make have a lasting impact on local economic development, as well as the families and community members in our region.”

The NOHFC is funding the following projects:

  • $500,000 for the Township of Alberton to extend the winter skating season by adding a roof to the Alberton outdoor rink.
  • $495,000 for the Town of Fort Frances to rehabilitate Sunny Cove Camp. The project includes renovating Russell Hall, demolishing unsafe buildings, and updating the campgrounds.
  • $180,000 for the Township of Sioux Narrows-Nestor Falls to enhance the road corridor that runs through and between the Sioux Narrows and Nestor Falls townsites. The project includes installing new banners and decorative elements, updating signage, landscaping, and improving pedestrian walkways.
  • $179,057 for the Dance Township Community Association to restore Dance Community Hall. The project includes renovating the kitchen, making the washroom fully accessible, building a storage and utility room, installing a water treatment filtration system, and setting up cellular and internet services.
  • $86,800 for Constant Trucking – a Fort Frances-based log hauling company – to expand its services by purchasing a log loader.

The NOHFC promotes economic prosperity across Northern Ontario by providing financial assistance to projects—big and small, rural and urban—that stimulate growth, job creation and skills development. Since June 2018, the NOHFC has invested more than $759 million in 6,233 projects in Northern Ontario, leveraging more than $2.3 billion in investment and creating or sustaining over 9,590 jobs.

Quick Fact

  • The Ontario government launched new and improved NOHFC programs that support more projects in rural northern communities and make it easier for more people and businesses to apply. The programs target existing and emerging markets, provide more work opportunities for Indigenous people and address the skilled labour shortage in the North.

Additional Resources

  • The NOHFC’s Community Enhancement Program builds strong and resilient northern communities through targeted investments in critical infrastructure.
  • The NOHFC’s Invest North Program boosts economic growth and attracts more investment by supporting business development, expansion and innovation.

Quotes

“The Township of Alberton is very grateful for the NOHFC’s generous support for this project. The new roof will enhance year-round enjoyment of the facilities for everyone. The Millennium Park is such an important asset to our community and the roof will provide enjoyment and opportunity for years to come.” – Lisa Sheppard, Chief Administrative Officer and Clerk Treasurer, Township of Alberton

“We know Sunny Cove is held dear to many townsfolk as a place of nostalgia, and we are excited to see the facilities repaired back to a safe level so we can continue to offer use of the campgrounds. We are very grateful to the NOHFC for acknowledging the importance of this project, and for providing a very generous grant contribution to see this project to completion.” – John Burrows, Chief Building Official and Municipal Planner, Town of Fort Frances

“The Township greatly appreciates the generous funding our community has received through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation. The NOHFC funding programs have been instrumental in our community completing many improvement projects, and we are excited to now move forward with highway corridor beautification elements.” – Gale Black, Mayor, Township of Sioux Narrows-Nestor Falls

“Thanks to the generous support from Minister Rickford and the NOHFC, we have rebuilt Dance Community Hall from the ground up. Without this support, we would not be able to bring back this important historical site for the people of Dance Township. We look forward to finishing this project so we can once again host meetings in our state-of-the-art facility, as well as weddings, socials, reunions and other year-round events. Special thanks to all people involved in bringing this project to fruition.” – Keith Munro, President, Dance Township Community Association

“This year, Constant Trucking will be celebrating their 20th year in business in the forest industry, and thanks to supports such as NOHFC for having funds available for small businesses, we are able to expand our business to include more equipment. This purchase will greatly benefit the industry and provide jobs that positively impact our business and Northwestern Ontario.” – Connie Foster, Owner, Constant Trucking