UPDATED July 12 at 2 p.m.
Businesses and development groups, both downtown and all over the city, received some provincial government support July 9, Sudbury MPP Rick Bartolucci said.
He announced two $50,000 grants from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) at a Greater Sudbury Development Corporation press conference.
The first of the grants is designed to give industry more choice as to where to set up their businesses.
“I am announcing $50,000 today from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) for looking at expanding industrial lands for business in Greater Sudbury,” Bartolucci said.
The project, called the Industrial Land Infrastructure Assessment Project, will review the state and capacity of municipal infrastructure in specific industrial areas all over the city.
Bartolucci said he discussed the need for more serviced industrial sites with the late businessman Risto Laamanen.
“We discussed this at length as a way to revitalize industrial development.”
Bartolucci said there are adequate industrial sites in the city, but according to a study by the GSDC, not all are serviced and ready for businesses to locate there.
The project has three phases, according to a press release from the City of Greater Sudbury. The first, already underway, lists specific sites and their capacities. It should be completed by the fall.
The second phase costs out what it would take to upgrade the services on top potential industrial sites. It will be underway by the end of the summer. The final phase, consisting of more detailed design work on selected sites, is expected to be finished by late 2011.
The federal government, through FedNor, is contributing $225,000, and the City of Greater Sudbury is adding $475,000 to fund the project.
Another $50,000 NOHFC grant for helping to develop a plan and action strategy for downtown revitalization was also announced by Bartolucci.
The plan will help guide public and private sector investments, and includes upgrading the look of the downtown and promoting housing developments to attract residents.
“This plan will produce real results,” he said. He referred to some encouraging signs in the downtown, such as the construction of a new Shopper's Drug Mart across from Market Square.
“By supporting these projects, we are helping the City of Greater Sudbury plan for future economic development opportunities that will bring new enterprises and jobs to the region,” Bartolucci added.
Mayor John Rodriguez said all levels of government are participating. The city is contributing $72,000 to the action plan and has partnered with the federal government for the initiative. FedNor is contributing $122,000.
“We have here two more examples of all levels of government coming together and partnering with the community to build a better future for Greater Sudbury,” he said.
