CHELMSFORD – The Ontario government is providing more than $403,000 through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) for 13 job placement opportunities in the Nickel Belt region. This investment will help businesses expand operations and grow Northern Ontario’s workforce.

“Through the NOHFC, our government is focused on supporting projects that provide on-the-job career development opportunities while addressing skilled labour shortages in the Northeast,” said Greg Rickford, Minister of Northern Development. “We heard first-hand from business owners in Nickel Belt that the NOHFC programming alleviated financial pressures, and allowed them to focus on providing their employees with meaningful experiences that lead to good-paying jobs right in their community.”

Internship projects receiving NOHFC funding include:

• $48,224 for The Belanger Ford Lincoln Centre Ltd. – located in Chelmsford – to hire two Automotive Service Technicians for duties including vehicle repairs and maintenance, transmission and engine work and ensuring proper documentation
• $47,840 for EcoWater North – located in Val Caron – to hire two Water Technicians to install equipment, troubleshoot equipment issues and perform annual services on all equipment
• $35,000 for Coniston Industrial Park Ltd. to hire a Project Manager and Technologist for construction and renovation project management and development of architectural, design and construction detail drawings

• $35,000 for Tracks & Wheels Equipment Brokers Inc. – located in Val Caron – to hire a Digital Marketing Specialist to improve brand awareness, refine advertising strategies and expand lead generation efforts
• $31,993 for The Shop Industrial Inc. – located in Lively – to hire a Heavy Equipment Mechanic Intern to clean, repair and install heavy equipment and parts, while working toward their licence as a Heavy Duty Equipment Technician

The Ontario government is supporting local internships through the NOHFC’s People and Talent Program. The program supports a wide variety of internships, including skilled trades, and addresses the unique needs of other in-demand jobs. Program candidates include new entrants into the workforce, those transitioning to a new career, the unemployed and underemployed.

The NOHFC promotes economic prosperity across Northern Ontario by providing financial assistance to projects—big and small, rural and urban—that stimulate growth, job creation and skills development. Since June 2018, the NOHFC has invested more than $762 million in 6,309 projects in Northern Ontario, leveraging more than $2.3 billion in investment and creating or sustaining over 9,750 jobs.

Quick Facts

• The Ontario government launched new and improved NOHFC programs that support more projects in rural northern communities and make it easier for more people and businesses to apply. The programs target existing and emerging markets, provide more work opportunities for Indigenous people and address the skilled labour shortage in the North.

• A list of all 13 Nickel Belt NOHFC internship program funding recipients is available on the corporation’s website.

Additional Resources

• The NOHFC, Northern Development Offices
  and Small Business Enterprise Centres are available to support northern communities, businesses and other stakeholders in identifying economic development opportunities and assist in accessing government funding programs.

Quotes

“EcoWater North deals with a wide variety of water quality concerns that require skill and knowledge to test and treat. NOHFC funding has allowed Ecowater North to train new technicians in testing and treating water for both residential and industrial applications. The technicians were able to commit to an essential role in their community providing safe and clean drinking water while eliminating any training costs that may have been needed.” – Melissa Trottier, Office Manager, Ecowater North

“The Shop Industrial Inc. has a very unique type of machinery and with that comes the need for speciality-trained talent to understand the equipment they will be working on. The contribution from the NOHFC allowed us to help a young person achieve their goal of becoming a Heavy Equipment Mechanic, teaching from the start what is required in our industry.” – Kimberly Foyston, Office Manager, The Shop Industrial Inc.

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Media Contacts

Curtis Lindsay, Minister’s Office — 437-240-7317 — curtis.lindsay@ontario.ca

Media Desk, Communications Branch — mediadesk.ndm@ontario.ca