City to support businesses looking to tap into defence industry
Ottawa is investing over $472,000 to help Northern Ontario businesses diversify into the defence industry.
MP Pauline Rochefort announced the money for a multi-year City of North Bay pilot project.
The non-repayable funding will see the city’s Economic Development Department coordinate activities and provide support to companies in their certification efforts, develop and host workshops and more.
That includes helping the city host the Northern Ontario Road to Defence conference next month.
Mayor Peter Chirico says local companies are interested in getting involved.
“There have been a number of manufacturing industries that have contacted the city asking how we get involved, how do we diversify our products to make sure we’re ready for the spending down the road,” he says. “That’s exactly what those funds will be utilized for.”
Rochefort says the money is part of a greater allotment of funding for the region, through the National Defence Strategy.
“There’s money that’s been earmarked, $15 million to engage Northern Ontario companies to ensure that they benefit or they partake in that $80 billion that has been aligned.”
FedNor Minister Patty Hajdu says by supporting domestic efforts to grow our armed forces through the Buy Canada Plan, they’re investing in Canada and in Northern Ontario.
Richard Coffinhttps://www.mynorthbaynow.com/Richard Coffin has been a reporter and news anchor on the radio in North Bay for over 25 years. From premiers to people in the neighbourhood, he enjoys connecting with newsmakers and writing stories that matter to area listeners on a variety of topics including healthcare, education, politics, sports and more.
