October 23, 2026

Investment will increase made-in-Ontario manufacturing capacity and create good-paying jobs

NORTH BAY — The Ontario government is investing $1 million through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) to help RailOne Rainbow Canada Corp. build a new concrete railroad tie factory in North Bay to meet market demand. As part of its plan to protect Ontario, the province is making strategic investments to grow manufacturing capacity in northern Ontario, helping to create good-paying jobs and supporting the production of in-demand products for Canadian and global markets.

“Northern Ontario’s resources, know-how and talent make it a natural hub for manufacturing,” said George Pirie, Minister of Northern Economic Development and Growth. “Our government is proud to support the establishment of the RailOne factory, creating good-paying jobs and producing Ontario-made products for rail systems across the province, and beyond.”

RailOne, a joint venture created to manufacture concrete railroad ties in Canada, is using NOHFC funding to refurbish an existing building, purchase manufacturing equipment and conduct marketing activities. This initiative will establish a new manufacturing facility in northern Ontario, creating approximately 19 good-paying jobs and enabling the company to competitively offer a durable and long-lasting product for heavy-haul, high-speed and urban transit projects.

“Our government is taking action to build and grow the manufacturing sector in North Bay,” said Vic Fedeli, Member of Provincial Parliament for Nipissing. “Today’s $1 million investment in RailOne Rainbow Canada Corp. is driving economic growth in the region. This funding has helped establish Ontario’s first facility to manufacture concrete ties for transit projects and reduced transportation costs by producing them in Northern Ontario rather than importing them from overseas.”

The Ontario government is prioritizing investments through the NOHFC that protect northern industries and jobs, mitigate the impacts of U.S. tariffs and trade disruptions and secure new opportunities for the long-term prosperity of northern Ontario. The renewed focus is boosting competitiveness and ensuring the North remains a leader in Ontario’s economy. This new direction is in addition to the province’s increased investment, bringing the NOHFC’s annual budget to a total of $110 million. Together, these initiatives will benefit communities of all sizes, both rural and urban, including Indigenous communities.

Quotes

“We are excited to make North Bay home for our new company, RailOne Rainbow Canada Corp., where our two businesses have joined forces to set up a state-of-the-art production facility. We appreciate NOHFC’s support for phase one of our operation, which will almost double our local workforce. Concrete ties are a clean, creosote-free, low-maintenance, environmentally friendly alternative. With great highway and rail access, we are ideally situated to serve Canada’s concrete rail tie needs from coast to coast!” – Boris Naneff, Managing Director, RailOne Rainbow Canada Corp.

“RailOne is bringing 70 years of concrete technology for railway tracks from Germany to Canada. They’re developing a robust Canadian railway supply chain for passenger transit, high speed rail and heavy haul logistics.” – Saurav Mittal, CEO, RailOne Rainbow Canada Corp.

Quick Facts

• Through its funding programs, the NOHFC offers support to public and private sector economic development projects across northern Ontario.
• In September, Ontario announced more than $3.4 million in NOHFC support for manufacturing projects across northern Ontario.
• Since June 2018, the NOHFC has approved more than $1.1 billion for 9,011 projects in northern Ontario, leveraging more than $3.4 billion in investment and creating or sustaining over 13,900 jobs.

Additional Resources

• The NOHFC, Northern Development Offices and Ontario Small Business Advisory Centres support northern communities, businesses and other stakeholders in identifying economic development opportunities and government funding programs.