GO NORTH INVESTOR PROGRAM

The GO North Investor Program aims to help northern communities attract and retain investment and jobs. 

The program focuses on three components: 

NORTHERN COMMUNITIES INVESTMENT READINESS (NCIR) INITIATIVE

 

Northern communities are using the NCIR initiative to help them identify investment opportunities and get ready to respond to potential international investors.

The NCIR component consists of:

• an Investment Readiness Test - this self-assessment tool helps northern communities determine the effectiveness of their planning and economic development process, identify investment readiness gaps and add value to those processes. 
• an NCIR grant - provides up to $5,000 per eligible applicant (e.g. northern First Nations, municipalities and economic development corporations) toward their community investment readiness activity.

Eligible activities may include: 

• developing community profiles for the Ontario Investment and Trade Centre web site
• developing investment readiness workshops and training,
• developing investment readiness strategies (e.g. community asset inventory, SWOT analysis, gap analysis, infrastructure requirement studies)
• developing site selection information
• identifying investment priorities
• identifying investment targets and markets
• hosting potential investors by providing tours or site visits
• undertaking other eligible preparations for investment.

 

Resources

Northern Communities Investment Readiness (NCIR) Initiative brochure (PDF)

NCIR Application and Guide (PDF)

Northern Communities Investment Readiness Test

Canada-Ontario Business Services Centre (COBSC)

 

TARGETED MARKETING & INVESTMENT

 

Through a partnership with the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, our GO North team aggressively promotes the competitive advantages of Northern Ontario to investors around the world. Our aim is to promote innovation and growth in the North’s existing and emerging sectors.

Key target sectors include:

• value added wood products - Forest Product Industries
• mining equipment and services - Mining in Ontario
• customer relationship management centres
• biotechnology - Northern Ontario Biotechnology Initiative
• alternate energy

International markets include:

• U.S.A.
• Germany
• Scandinavia
• U.K.
• Japan

To help reach these international markets, a multi-language print and online ad campaign was developed aimed at businesses and two ‘in- market’ consultants were hired to directly promote Northern Ontario opportunities with investors from USA and Europe target market areas.

Other sales and marketing tools include:

• a Northern Ontario component on the Ontario Investment and Trade Centre web site that profiles northern communities
• business testimonials
• sector brochures
  • value added wood (PDF)
  • mining equipment & services (PDF)
  • bio products (PDF)
  • contact centres
• an Ontario’s North brochure, video and trade display booth

COORDINATED STRATEGIC RESPONSE

 

The coordinated strategic response component provides a “one window” access point for investors looking to invest in Northern Ontario.  In coordination with the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, our GO North investment teams identify, respond to and develop investment opportunities in the North.

 

GO North teams have already responded to investor inquiries that range from alternate energy and synthetics manufacturing opportunities to new uses for the forest biomass.  We work closely with an international network of resources, including the federal government, on project development.

  

For more information contact the Trade, Investment and Emerging Sectors Team

Talk to one of our northern development professionals. They live and work in communities across Northern Ontario. They understand your needs