Province gets behind light industrial park development in Wiikwemkoong First Nation

NEWS RELEASE
MINISTRY OF ENERGY, NORTHERN DEVELOPMENT AND MINES
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Ontario's government is supporting an infrastructure project in the Manitoulin District, creating one direct full-time job and nine indirect full-time jobs.

Today, Parliamentary Assistant Dave Smith, on behalf of Greg Rickford, Minister of Energy, Northern Development and Mines and Minister of Indigenous Affairs, announced the Wikwemikong Development Commission is receiving $1 million to develop a light industrial park that will attract, establish and grow business on the Wiikwemkoong First Nation and in the surrounding community.

The project will help the community engage the private sector with opportunities to locate retail, service, manufacturing, distribution and assembly industries in an area that provides both commercial space and a labour pool. The initial phase includes road and building construction, lot preparation, electricity delivery, and septic and water system installation.

Wikwemikong Development Commission also received $100,000 to produce an economic development plan for a pellet manufacturing plant in Nairn Centre. The plan will help determine the feasibility of building a plant capable of producing 150,000-metric tonnes of pellets per year. The pellets will be used as an alternative heating source, a cleaner technology than fossil fuels that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

While touring the Manitoulin Island Area, PA Smith also visited Split Rail Brewing Company in Gore Bay where he announced $52,000 in funding to expand production capacity to meet the growing demand for Split Rail products.

"We will continue to support promising projects like these that diversify our economy and develop strong, vibrant communities across the north," said PA Smith. "With these investments, we're sending a strong signal that Northern Ontario is open for business and open for jobs."