Ontario Construction News staff writer
The Ontario government is providing more than $596,000 through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) to two Sault Ste. Marie companies to stimulate economic development in the northeast.
“This investment totalling nearly $600,000 between SIS Manufacturing and Apex Cranes has leveraged well over $1 million and helped to create new full-time jobs here in Sault Ste. Marie,” said Ross Romano, MPP for Sault Ste. Marie. “Local businesses like these contribute to our local, regional and provincial economies and are a great example of our community being an important part of the integrated supply chain in industrial manufacturing.”
NOHFC funding will go to the following projects:
- $545,768 for SIS Manufacturing Corp. – a steel beam manufacturer – to purchase a new plasma cutting machine, laser tracking system and lathe
- $50,810 for Apex Cranes Ltd. – a crane and concrete pumping services business – to purchase a new concrete pump
“Supporting local companies creates jobs, attracts new investment and keeps the North competitive and current,” said Greg Rickford, minister of Northern development. “Our funding helps businesses thrive and provides real opportunities for northern entrepreneurs.”
The NOHFC promotes economic prosperity across Northern Ontario by providing financial assistance to projects—big and small, rural and urban—that stimulate growth, job creation and skills development.
“The support of the NOHFC and Ontario government has been an integral component to the continued development of Apex Cranes and is a welcomed reassurance that the current government is committed to the ongoing development of small business, job creation, and the economy as a whole in Northern Ontario,” said Adam Zalewski, president, Apex Cranes Ltd.
The Ontario government launched new NOHFC programs that support projects in rural northern communities and streamlined the application process for individuals and businesses. The programs “target existing and emerging markets, provide more work opportunities for Indigenous people and address the skilled labour shortage in the North.”
“This NOHFC investment has allowed us to purchase a new CNC lathe with live tooling, used to machine pivot pins, a major component on the under frame, and a laser tracking system that will allow us to weld ultra light locomotive frames,” said Tony Porco, owner and president, SIS Manufacturing Corp.
