Jack Elliott
With the status quo forestry industry in a funk, perhaps now is the time to be investigating in new opportunities.
The Town of Rainy River, for instance, has a number of physical structures that could house value-added industries for the forestry sector.
The front portion of the former Weatherwear building is insulated, heated, contains full washroom facilities, has power, and is vacant.
Here is several hundred square feet that could house a small manufacturing operation, quickly and inexpensively.
Meanwhile, the defunct but basically new Globeco building next door, containing a full array of equipment, sits idle waiting for an entrepreneur.
Held under a “power of sale” order by the Northern Lights Credit Union, it is listed on the Rainy River Future Development Corp.’s website—lock stock, and barrel—for just under $500,000.
We have had ongoing expressions of interest but nothing solid yet, noted Brian MacDonald, vice-president of lending for Northern Lights. Perhaps soon, he added.
With the FP Innovations focusing its efforts across the north on the Northern Ontario Value Added (NOVA) Initiative, are we going to see entrepreneurs emerge with the vision and initiative to revitalize the industry in our community?
