Duane Hicks
Calling all district businesses! Do you know what funding programs and services are available to you?
Find out what’s available next Wednesday (March 4) during a business information forum at the Copper River Inn here.
Running from 1-4 p.m., the forum will feature presenters from around the region talking about their programs, with the focus being on small business.
“A lot of the programs will be for either existing businesses or for new businesses,” said Angela Halverson, business investment officer with the Rainy River Future Development Corp.
“And some are designed specifically for women, others specifically for innovation—there’s different program for different things,” she added.
“I think it’s going to be really good, especially for people who are thinking of starting a business or maybe thinking about expanding their existing business,” Halverson noted.
“They’ll have a chance to see what programs are available out there, as well as different funding or possible grant programs that might be open to them, as well.
Presenters will include the Business Development Bank of Canada, Ministry of Northern Development and Mines, Industrial Research Assistance Program, Northern Community Development Services, and the Northwest Business Centre.
Other include the Northwestern Ontario Innovation Centre, Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, PARO Centre for Women’s Enterprise, the Self-Employment Benefit Program, and the RRFDC.
To register, contact Halverson at 274-3726 or via e-mail at angela@rrfdc.on.ca
Organizers would prefer attendees register by Monday (March 2) to give the Copper River Inn time to prepare
refreshments.
Halverson noted similar seminars have been held here in past years, but it usually was Jane Gillon of the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines who hosted them.
This time, the RRFDC decided to partner with MNDM and the Northwest Business Centre to stage the forum.
Halverson said the district is in a time of economic change right now.
While the pulp and paper mill is shut down, there’s still hope it will be sold.
And west of Fort Frances, New Gold’s Rainy River project is moving forward and sparking interest among local businesses.
“There could be a very lucrative change for the district in the next year, and I think people are seeing that,” said Halverson.
“Just from the people coming into my office asking about business start-up, I am getting a lot of people that are really thinking about the mine.”
Local motels have been bought up and are being renovated, and small businesses are starting up, Halverson noted.
She added the RRFDC also has been fielding plenty of inquiries on commercial spaces for rent.
“I’ve had people come in from Manitoba and Saskatchewan, and they had businesses out in the oilsands and now they’re looking at opportunities here,” said Halverson.
“Those are the kinds of things we are seeing, and I think that’s a promising future for the district.”
