Ontario invests around $2.5M in rail industrial park development

Ontario is helping to attract businesses to Timmins by investing in the development of a new industrial park on Hallnor Road.

With an investment of $2,485,650 through the province’s Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC), the City of Timmins is establishing a 36-acre industrial park. The project includes water, road and hydro upgrades as well as the construction of rail spurs to accommodate a new anchor tenant to the park.

Since 2003, the province has committed nearly $1.1 billion through the NOHFC to 7,207 projects, leveraging more than $3.8 billion in direct economic activity and creating or sustaining over 27,600 jobs in Northern Ontario.

Ontario is making the largest infrastructure investment in the province’s history — about $160 billion over 12 years, which is making 110,000 jobs possible every year across the province, with projects such as roads, bridges, transit systems, schools and hospitals. In 2015, the province announced support for more than 325 projects that will keep people and goods moving, connect communities and improve quality of life.

Investing in economic development in the North is part of the government’s economic plan to build Ontario up and deliver on its number-one priority to grow the economy and create jobs. The four-part plan includes investing in talent and skills, including helping more people get and create the jobs of the future by expanding access to high-quality college and university education. The plan is making the largest investment in public infrastructure in Ontario’s history and investing in a low-carbon economy driven by innovative, high-growth, export-oriented businesses. The plan is also helping working Ontarians achieve a more secure retirement.

Work on the industrial park is expected to be complete by this September.

“Our government is committed to helping northern communities improve their industrial sectors to take advantage of new economic development opportunities,” says Minster of Northern Development and Mines and NOHFC Chair Michael Gravelle.

“Our investment in this new industrial park will bring local services to the park and attract new tenants and jobs to Timmins.”

Timmins Mayor Steve Black commends the NOHFC Board for supporting the project.

“The development of this industrial park is vital for our City and is already helping us attract new private-sector business to Timmins. This project will help create good jobs for our local residents and increase municipal revenues,” he said.

“We continue to work on economic and community development projects to improve the investment climate for businesses looking to establish their operations in Timmins,” TEDC Chair Fred Gibbons said about the investment, “We believe that this new industrial park will help attract important new investments to our region and generate significant economic spin-off benefits for the area.”