The Government of Canada has announced $863,023 in funding through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario (FedNor) to support innovation and sustainable economic development across the region. The announcement was made by Pauline Rochefort, Parliamentary Secretary for Rural Development and Member of Parliament for Nipissing–Timiskaming, on behalf of Minister Patty Hajdu.
Of the total investment, $702,713 is allocated to the Northern Ontario Farm Innovation Alliance (NOFIA) to strengthen the agri-food sector. This initiative aims to enhance local value chains, promote the adoption of advanced technologies, and support sustainable agricultural practices. NOFIA will also address production and procurement challenges and explore necessary infrastructure investments in aggregation, storage, and distribution, ultimately boosting market opportunities for Northern Ontario–grown foods.
The NOFIA-led project is expected to modernize and expand 120 agri-businesses, create 60 new jobs over three years, and support the development of nearly 2,000 acres of farmland. It is projected to attract over $1 million in industry investment, contributing significant economic benefits to the region.
An additional $160,310 will support the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities (FONOM) in producing and distributing a bilingual video series to showcase Northern Ontario’s business potential, skilled workforce, land availability, and lifestyle advantages. The campaign will feature 12 promotional videos, including eight five-minute district-focused features and four 15-minute industry-focused segments highlighting sectors like mining, film, and battery electric vehicles.
The funding is part of FedNor’s Northern Ontario Development Program (NODP) and the Regional Economic Growth Through Innovation Fund (REGI). These programs support community-led economic diversification, job creation, and technology adoption, with the goal of building resilient and self-reliant communities across Northern Ontario.
