Atikokan’s economic development initiatives supported Funds given for business advisor, feasibility study

The Ontario government is building prosperity in the Township of Atikokan by helping to diversify the local economy, Northern Development and Mines minister Rick Bartolucci and Thunder Bay-Atikokan MPP Bill Mauro announced last week.
“This is good news for our community,” said Mauro. “Atikokan is a community of determined individuals.
“I am confident this determination will serve residents well as we move forward to build a stronger community,” he added.
The Ministry of Northern Development and Mines is providing the township with one-time funding of $200,000 to put in place a business advisor/government liaison.
This individual will work with the private and public sectors to explore and implement opportunities to strengthen the community’s economy and attract new investment.
As well, the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corp. (NOHFC) is providing $40,000 to the Atikokan Economic Development Corp. to research the potential for establishing an engineered lumber product industry using birch and aspen.
Such a facility could result in 60-100 permanent jobs.
“These measures from the province will help us begin to address our community’s dire economic situation,” said Atikokan Mayor Dennis Brown. “I look forward to tangible benefits from these initiatives.”
“Our government is well aware of, and very concerned with, the challenges Atikokan is facing,” said Bartolucci, who also chairs the NOHFC.
“We are working directly with the community, in addition to investing in broader initiatives for the region and the forest industry,” he noted.
“We are supporting innovative ways of adding greater value to our industry’s wood products,” said Natural Resources minister David Ramsay. “It’s part of our commitment to strengthening the forest sector and northern communities.”