News Release

New NOHFC Programs Will Create Jobs And Build Prosperity

January 24, 2005

Application Forms and Program Details Now Available

SAULT STE. MARIE— The McGuinty government has released details and application guidelines for six new Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) programs that will revitalize Northern Ontario, Northern Development and Mines Minister and NOHFC Chair Rick Bartolucci announced today.

“The new NOHFC is now open for business,” said Bartolucci.  “We consulted extensively across the North to ensure that our new programs will address the priorities of northerners by creating stronger communities, fostering job creation and building future prosperity in Northern Ontario.”

The six new programs, developed under the refocused NOHFC mandate, will provide new opportunities to northern Ontario youth, young entrepreneurs, business owners, communities, public-private partnerships and others across the North.  They will complement other government initiatives such as the Northern Ontario Grow Bonds pilot project and the GO North Investor Program. 

Full program details and applications forms are now available from the NOHFC website at www.nohfc.com.  Program brochures are available at MNDM offices, Government Information Centres and Small Business Enterprise Centres across the North.  The NOHFC will start accepting applications immediately.

“We kept the fund active during the review of the NOHFC’s mandate,” said Bartolucci. “Now we’ve got a new and improved program that will help retain youth and support important community initiatives and private-public partnerships that foster economic growth and job creation in the North.”

A refocused NOHFC is key to the government’s Northern Prosperity Plan for delivering real, positive change across the North.  The plan is founded on four pillars or areas of focus: Strengthening the North and its Communities; Listening to and Serving Northerners Better; Competing Globally; and Providing Opportunities for All.

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Contacts:
Laura Blondeau
Minister’s Office – Sudbury
(705) 564-7454

Backgrounder

Enterprises North Job Creation Program

January 24, 2005

The refocused Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) now offers capital funding assistance to enterprises that will create jobs in the North.

Assistance, in the form of repayable loans, will be made available through the Enterprises North Job Creation Program to eligible new and existing enterprises involved in the following sectors:
- Agriculture
- Mining
- Forest products
- Resource-based, cultural, adventure and nature-based tourism
- Manufacturing
- Technology
- Processing
- Telecommunications
- Other business activities that will strengthen the Northern Ontario economy.

Generally, enterprises will receive funding based on the number of full-time jobs created in Northern Ontario, with a maximum contribution to any one project of 50 per cent of eligible capital costs up to $1 million.

Eligible costs would include such items as capital construction costs related to business expansion or establishment, leasehold improvements, purchase of equipment, intellectual capital, and other capital investments that result in job creation in Northern Ontario.

For more detailed information on the program, eligibility criteria and available assistance, please see the NOHFC website at www.nohfc.com or visit an MNDM office, Government Information Centre or Small Business Enterprise Centre in Northern Ontario.

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Contacts:
Laura Blondeau
Minister’s Office – Sudbury
(705) 564-7454

Backgrounder

Northern Ontario Youth Internship And Co-op Program

January 24, 2005

The new Northern Ontario Youth Internship and Co-op Program, part of the refocused Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC), will help young northerners make the transition from school to the workplace.

The program responds to the long-standing issue of youth out-migration by encouraging young people to remain in the North or return to Northern Ontario to work.

Both private sector and public sector employers (for example, municipal governments, First Nations and not-for-profit corporations) are eligible under this program. Eligible applicants must be involved in health care, social services, value-added manufacturing, telecommunications, biotechnology, emerging technologies, environmental sciences and other activities that will result in an economic development advantage for Northern Ontario.

The program will provide conditional contributions toward the wages of northern post-secondary students aged 29 and under.

For more detailed information on the program, eligibility criteria and available assistance, please see the NOHFC website at www.nohfc.com or visit an MNDM office, Government Information Centre or Small Business Enterprise Centre in Northern Ontario.

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Contacts:
Laura Blondeau
Minister’s Office – Sudbury
(705) 564-7454

Backgrounder

Northern Ontario Young Entrepreneur Program

January 24, 2005

Under the refocused Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC), young northerners can take advantage of a Northern Ontario Young Entrepreneur Program to develop their business skills and start their own full-time businesses.

Residents of Northern Ontario aged 18 to 29 can apply for assistance with the capital costs of business start-up. Funding will be a conditional contribution (financial assistance that does not need to be repaid, provided certain conditions are satisfied), generally of up to 85 per cent of eligible costs to a maximum of $25,000 per project.

At the time of approval, the young entrepreneur must also invest in the business by making a cash equity contribution to the business equal to 10 per cent of the NOHFC conditional contribution. Each enterprise is expected to create at least one new full-time job in the North.

The proponent will have to complete a business plan as part of the application to the NOHFC. Then, following the first year of operation, approved applicants will submit a report outlining the economic benefits of their project, including revenues and job creation.

For more detailed information on the program, eligibility criteria and available assistance, please see the NOHFC website at www.nohfc.com or visit an MNDM office, Government Information Centre or Small Business Enterprise Centre in Northern Ontario.

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Contacts:
Laura Blondeau
Minister’s Office – Sudbury
(705) 564-7454

Backgrounder

Small Business Energy Conservation Program

January 24, 2005

The refocused Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) will help small business owners conserve energy and reduce their demand on external energy sources.

Small and medium-sized businesses in the office and hospitality sectors can apply through the NOHFC’s Small Business Energy Conservation Program for assistance of up to 50 per cent of eligible costs for energy retrofit planning, energy retrofit projects and new internal energy generation projects.

Funding assistance for energy retrofit planning and energy retrofit projects is offered in co-operation with Natural Resources Canada, and is meant to supplement any assistance received from the corresponding federal programs. NOHFC applicants must first apply to the federal government and attach copies of their federal applications and approval letters from Natural Resources Canada to their NOHFC application.

Applications for the new internal energy generation component should be sent directly to the NOHFC.

For more detailed information on the program, eligibility criteria and available assistance, please see the NOHFC website at www.nohfc.com or visit an MNDM office, Government Information Centre or Small Business Enterprise Centre in Northern Ontario.

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Contacts:
Laura Blondeau
Minister’s Office – Sudbury
(705) 564-7454

Backgrounder

Emerging Technology Program

January 24, 2005

The new Emerging Technology Program of the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) supports innovative initiatives and demonstration projects that will create jobs and economic growth in Northern Ontario.

Both public sector proponents and individual businesses are eligible for assistance.

Under Public Sector Emerging Technology, the program will consider projects proposed by partnerships and alliances consisting of municipalities, private sector businesses and organizations, the federal government and other government-related agencies acting together. Municipalities, First Nations, not-for-profit corporations and educational institutions may apply individually. Projects must be located in Northern Ontario.

Examples of undertakings that are eligible for capital funding include information and communications technology infrastructure, centres of excellence, film development and production, value-added products, and biotechnology and life sciences projects.

Applicants in Private Sector Emerging Technology may include incorporated private sector companies or consortiums of companies with Northern Ontario projects that increase research and development, foster greater commercialization, promote collaborative research and development activities, or encourage successful innovation in small companies. Initiatives may involve such activities as information and communications technology, film development and production, value-added products, and biotechnology or life sciences projects.

For more detailed information on the program, eligibility criteria and available assistance, please see the NOHFC website at www.nohfc.com or visit an MNDM office, Government Information Centre or Small Business Enterprise Centre in Northern Ontario.

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Contacts:
Laura Blondeau
Minister’s Office – Sudbury
(705) 564-7454

Backgrounder

Infrastructure And Community Development Program

January 24, 2005

The new Infrastructure and Community Development Program of the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) encourages partnerships that find effective ways to create jobs and improve economic prospects in the North through improvements to infrastructure.

Applicants may include partnerships and alliances comprising municipalities, private sector businesses and organizations, the federal government and other government-related agencies acting together. Municipalities, First Nations, not-for-profit corporations and educational institutions may apply individually for assistance. Projects must be located in Northern Ontario.
 The Infrastructure program component supports essential and strategic community infrastructure that is required to create jobs. Eligible projects include industrial parks, winter roads projects, waterfront development or community facilities for economic development purposes.
 The Community Development program component assists in identification of development opportunities, proposal preparation, capacity building and investment readiness projects, sectoral research projects and small capital projects that will help the community take advantage of an economic development opportunity.
Both program components will provide assistance in the form of conditional contributions (financial assistance that does not need to be repaid, provided certain conditions are satisfied), forgivable performance loans (a loan that will be forgiven provided that certain targets are met) and repayable loans, with approval based on such factors as the significance of the project, number of jobs created, financial capacity of the applicant and consistency with a community planning process, such as business retention and expansion or the investment readiness test.

For more detailed information on the program, eligibility criteria and available assistance, please see the NOHFC website at www.nohfc.com or visit an MNDM office, Government Information Centre or Small Business Enterprise Centre in Northern Ontario.

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Contacts:
Laura Blondeau
Minister’s Office – Sudbury
(705) 564-7454

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