Nearly $5.8 million in FedNor funding is on the way to over a dozen community and business growth initiatives in the Parry Sound and Muskoka regions.
Locally, the Parry Sound Area Community Business and Development Centre is getting $1.5 million to support its ongoing operations for the next five years and the Town of Parry Sound is getting $35,000 to hire a youth intern to create climate change awareness and attract green and clean businesses to the area.Â
McDougall is also getting just over $972,000 to expand its infrastructure at the Parry Sound Industrial Park, paving the way to create up to 22 new fully-serviced lots and the District of Parry Sound Employment Services Incorporated, otherwise known as Employment North, is receiving nearly $615,000 to renovate a former church in downtown South River to create a Community Hub to promote economic and social development in the region.
In Muskoka, Huntsville Forest Products is receiving a repayable investment of $1,000,000 to support development costs for its new 60,000 square foot saw mill expansion project in Huntsville, the Bracebridge Chamber of Commerce is getting $35,000 to hire a youth intern to assist with several incremental chamber strategies that would enhance business viability and growth in the area and the Huntsville/Lake of Bays Chamber of Commerce is receiving $191,500 to market and promote the region as a safe premier post COVID-19 travel destination.
In addition, Muskoka Brewery is receiving a repayable investment of $250,000 to adopt state-of-the-art green technology to improve its brewing and waste management processes and the Muskoka Roastery Coffee Company is getting $375,000 to assist with equipment purchases, infrastructure upgrades and the implementation of new green technologies.
Federal officials announced the funding, which is coming from three FedNor programs, during this year’s Ontario Tourism Summit in Muskoka. The three programs are the Regional Economic Growth through Innovation Program caps, the Northern Ontario Development Program, and the Community Futures Program.
Officials say the funding is expected to create and maintain 365 jobs.