Ontario Construction News staff writer
Sault Ste. Marie – The City of Sault Ste. Marie will receive $233,100 from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario (FedNor) to support the development of a public access marine port.
Funding will cover technical assessments and the creation of a comprehensive port development plan. City officials say the project is intended to expand existing port infrastructure to accommodate increasing demand for the movement of goods and resource-based commodities in the region.
Plans for the port include building capacity among Canadian vessel operators, developing a governance model for port operations, and creating a long-term strategy for the facility. Officials say the project could support the regional transport of critical minerals, biofuels, forest bioproducts, advanced manufacturing materials, and other commodities.
Terry Sheehan, Member of Parliament for Sault Ste. Marie, made the announcement on behalf of FedNor Minister Patty Hajdu. Last year, Transport Canada provided $405,300 toward the project.
Matthew Shoemaker, the city’s mayor, described the initiative as a step toward diversifying the local economy and strengthening regional supply chains.
The funding is part of the Northern Ontario Development Program, which invests in municipal, First Nations, and community-led projects aimed at economic development and diversification in Northern Ontario.
