THUNDER BAY – A provincial contribution will help Paul Giles grow his business.
His company, Hardy Giles Consulting, was one of six recipients to receive a total of $550,000 from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation. The company was granted $120,000 to add personnel and add new mobile simulation for heavy equipment operators.
“The funding really allows small businesses to grow in Northwestern Ontario. This has resulted in immense improvements for our company,” Giles said.
“We’re able to add three new staff member and expanded our present services into the heavy equipment field and training.”
MPP Bill Mauro (Lib., Thunder Bay-Atikokan) made the announcement Friday afternoon at a media conference held at The Commissary, an enduring east end small business that received $217,000 to upgrade its meat processing operation.
The provincial fund, which contributes $100 million annually, plays a significant role in allowing regional enterprises to compete with the rest Ontario
“Business in Northern Ontario often times, but not always, have more difficulty accessing capital than perhaps might be the case in other parts of the province,” Mauro said. “It plays a role in stabilizing and providing access to funding they might not be able to get otherwise.”
Another major investment was given to software development company Acori, which was granted about $166,000 to create three new full-time jobs and develop new applications
Mauro was particularly excited about the expansion of software development and its potential to diversify the economy.
“It’s a different kind of employment and they’re the kind of jobs we can say to some degree that a lot of younger people who come out of college and university with an education and looking to stay here in a particular field in their home community there is an opportunity for them,” he said.
Other recipients included Fort William First Nation, which received $30,825 to conduct a five-year economic development strategy, Westfort Productions was awarded $15,000 to start up and Jones Contracting received $6,500 to launch their business.
