A local business is benefitting from government funding to help expand their operations.
As part of a series of announcements made last week by Kenora-Rainy River MPP Greg Rickford across the Rainy River District, it was announced that Constant Trucking, an outfit located at the base of the Noden Causeway, is the recipient of $86,000 in funding through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) in order to allow them to purchase a log loader, a mobile piece of machinery that will allow them to more quickly and efficiently load their fleet of log hauling trucks.
Rickford, stopping at Constant Trucking’s main garage as part of his tour through the region last Tuesday, March 12, 2024, noted that these types of businesses are the ones that the funds are critical in supporting; smaller-scale operations that serve to help build out the community with jobs and economic support.
“I’m the chairman of the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation as part of my Ministry of Northern Development, and these are the businesses we like to help, support, be partners,” Rickford said.
“We recognize that you have way more skin in the game than what we’re contributing, to the tune of almost $90,000. You’ve leveraged that. This is a vibrant industry, and for Couchiching First Nation is just helps build out, one piece at a time, a little bit more economic capacity. A family-owned business getting it done.”
Constant Trucking owner Connie Foster shared that the business is celebrating 20 years in the forestry industry this year, and support from organizations like the NOHFC, and the Ontario Government, is crucial to their success.
“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,” Foster said.
“This purchase will greatly benefit the industry and provide jobs that positively impact our business and Northwestern Ontario.”
The log loader has been purchased and has spent some time in the field already, said Darcy Foster, Connie’s husband and the one who drives the loader. With the loader as part of their fleet, the business can now take on load and haul contracts, which are more valuable to them than only being able to haul.
“We actually make more money with the mills,” Foster said.
“It works out better that way. Now they pay us directly, we don’t go through a third party.”
The log loader has allowed them to load more wood more quickly, he explained, which makes the mills happy and makes them more profitable as a business. The biggest hurdle this year has been the weather, where the warm weather has created mud that would trap trucks and make it an expensive pain to get them free again.
“It hasn’t been a real good year [weather-wise],” he said.
“You go up to the bush, the trucks just get stuck, and then they start breaking tires and rims, and believe me, they’re not cheap anymore. You can see on one unit how many tires there are, and rims and axles and trailing arms and airbags. Last week I changed four suspension bags, and that’s a three or four hour job.”
Rickford also announced plenty of money for other regional projects, including $495,000 for the rehabilitation of Sunny Cove Camp and its various buildings, as well as $500,000 for the Township of Alberton to add a roof to their outdoor rink, which will help to extend the winter skating season. The Dance Township Community Association was the recipient of $179,057 to help with the restoration of the Dance Community Hall, which will include 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.
Finally, a bit further afield, the Township of Sioux Narrows-Nestor Falls received $180,000 to enhance the road corridor that connects, and runs through, the two communities, which will see the installation of new banners and decorative elements, updated signage, landscaping and improving pedestrian walkways.
