SAULT STE. MARIE – The Ontario government is providing $623,500 through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) to two projects that expand the Algoma Trail Network and build a year-round mountain bike skills park in Sault Ste. Marie. This investment will boost local tourism and recreational opportunities and improve physical activity and quality of life in Northeastern Ontario.
“This investment of $600,000 in Tourism Sault Ste. Marie’s Algoma Trail Network Construction – Phase 2 project leverages a total of investment of $1,240,000,” said Ross Romano, MPP for Sault Ste. Marie. “The adventure tourism sector is an important part of our northern economy, and I am proud to see our government making these kinds of investments which will attract tourists who will contribute to our local, regional and provincial economy.”
Tourism Sault Ste. Marie is receiving $600,000 in funding from the NOHFC to build a 30-kilometre extension to the Algoma Trail Network located at Hiawatha Highlands. This project will develop a year-round trail system connecting four lakes and multiple scenic viewpoints that will attract cycling tourists for multiple-day stays.
The Kinsmen Club of Sault Ste. Marie is receiving $23,500 in funding from the NOHFC to support the development of a year-round mountain bike skills park located in Kinsmen Park in Hiawatha Highlands with several features designed for self-improvement and for instructors to teach new skills. Both of these projects will help establish Sault Ste. Marie as a premier mountain biking destination in Ontario.
“Our government is expanding opportunities for local riders and mountain biking enthusiasts across Ontario to enjoy the unique natural beauty of the northeast,” said Greg Rickford, Minister of Northern Development. “Today’s investment directly contributes to the sustainability, prosperity and growth of Sault Ste. Marie’s tourism industry, ensuring Northern Ontario remains an attractive place to live, work, play and do business.”
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 $646 million in 5,633 projects in Northern Ontario, leveraging more than $2.3 billion in investment and creating or sustaining over 8,930 jobs.
Quick Fact
- 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.
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
“Tourism Sault Ste. Marie is thrilled to be the recipient of this generous support provided by the province through the NOHFC. Long recognized as a strategic growth market for Tourism Sault Ste. Marie, mountain bike tourism has grown exponentially over the past couple of years and is expected to maintain that growth for years to come. With the support of the province, Sault Ste. Marie is well positioned to establish itself as Ontario’s premier mountain bike destination.” – Beverley Barber, Chair, Tourism Sault Ste. Marie
“The City of Sault Ste. Marie is committed to continued development of local cycling infrastructure, and I want to thank the Government of Ontario through the NOHFC for supporting our efforts. Sault Ste. Marie is becoming synonymous with cycling thanks to our trails and their ready access to spectacular natural beauty, and I’m confident we’ll continue to see impressive growth in this area.” – Matthew Shoemaker, Mayor, City of Sault Ste. Marie
Media Contacts
Erika Robson, Minister’s Office — 416-450-1309 — erika.robson@ontario.ca
Media Desk, Communications Branch — mediadesk.ndm@ontario.ca
