BARWICK—A majority of members of the Rainy River District Regional Abattoir Inc. who attended a meeting in Barwick on Thursday night agreed to move ahead with the plans proposed by its board of directors.
After prospective operator Sunrise Meats and Sausage was unable to proceed with the project, the board came up with three options on how to proceed.
These included re-advertising for a lessee/operator, seeking investors to contribute $100,000 and negotiate a “for-profit” deal with RRDRAI as a non-profit partner, and constructing and operating the facility on a non-profit basis and hiring a manager and staff.
Upon reviewing the pros and cons of these options, RRDRAI secretary Bill Darby declared the board’s suggestion was to move forward with the third option—constructing and operating the facility on a non-profit basis and hiring a manager and staff.
“That way, we’d get on with it and build the facility,” Darby stressed, noting the first two options could require another six-month negotiation period.
He added it wasn’t likely they would qualify for government grants with the first two options, either.
Darby also said the business planning they’ve done to date provides a good base for this option—and puts them in a better position to receive community contributions.
The board provided information on its next steps and timelines, indicating it still anticipates completion of construction next summer.
“Thanks for your vote of confidence,” RRDRAI president Steve Loshaw said. “We will continue to work hard to make sure this happens.”
(Fort Frances Daily Bulletin)
Fort Frances Times
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