Press Release
The province is investing an additional $500,000 through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corp. to help establish the abattoir in Emo, bringing the total provincial support for the facility to $1 million.
“Establishment of an abattoir in the Rainy River area was an important recommendation of Dr. Bob Rosehart’s report,” Northern Development, Mines and Forestry minister Michael Gravelle, who also chairs the NOHFC, stated yesterday.
“I am pleased that we are able to support an initiative that will clearly contribute to the economic prosperity of the region,” he added.
“We are pleased to support a project that will help satisfy a growing demand for locally-grown foods while also helping local livestock producers access this important service in their community,” Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs minister Leona Dombrowsky said.
The NOHFC also is providing $121,900 to the Township of Emo to provide the services required for the abattoir to set up as the anchor tenant in a local industrial park.
A new not-for-profit, community-owned abattoir in Rainy River District, along with an upgraded industrial park, will help boost the local agricultural sector.
The abattoir will be located in the new Emo industrial park and permit the local processing of livestock.
Developing this agricultural infrastructure also will promote the creation of value-added opportunities in meat processing, such as new dry and frozen meat products.
The facility will be used by livestock producers of various species, including cattle, sheep, hogs, elk, and bison.
The new abattoir is expected to create four permanent jobs.
There currently are more than 300 livestock farm operations and over 25,000 head of cattle in Rainy River District.
