Ontario Supporting Upgrades to Regional Airport in Dryden

NEWS		August 15, 2023

DRYDEN – The Ontario government is providing $163,376 through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) to the City of Dryden for upgrades to the Dryden Regional Airport. This investment in transportation infrastructure will keep people and goods moving safely, efficiently, and sustainably.

“Today’s investment affirms our government’s commitment to supporting northern communities, boosting regional economic development, and improving quality of life in the North,” said Greg Rickford, Minister of Northern Development and Member of Provincial Parliament for Kenora–Rainy River. “By working with our municipal partners, we are making drastic improvements to the Dryden Regional Airport that will benefit Northerners across the region.”

The Dryden Regional Airport offers passengers scheduled and chartered flights. The airport also serves as headquarters for the Ontario government’s Dryden Forest Fire Management Centre, a critical hub during the forest fire season. NOHFC funding will be used to resurface the terminal floor, update the plumbing system, make the washrooms more accessible, and replace a maintenance door with a taller unit.

“This funding will allow us to not only improve the airport’s mechanical systems but also enhance the overall experience for travelers and tenants with the refinishing of the flooring and the renovation of the public washrooms in the terminal,” said Jack Harrison, Mayor, City of Dryden. “The NOHFC’s support is a testament to their commitment to the growth and development of our community, and we extend our gratitude for their assistance in making projects like this possible in Dryden.”

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 $685 million in 5,656 projects in Northern Ontario, leveraging more than $2.3 billion in investment and creating or sustaining over 9,000 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.