Ontario Supporting Economic Development in the North

Press Release

April 23, 2025

Province protecting jobs and strengthening the economy in Sault Ste. Marie

SAULT STE. MARIE — The Ontario government is investing more than $3.7 million in a variety of projects that will support economic development and growth and protect Ontario workers and jobs. These investments will support the government’s plan to make Ontario’s economy more self reliant, resilient and able to withstand whatever comes our way.

“As part of our plan to protect Ontario, our government is making targeted investments that will drive economic growth and prosperity in Sault Ste. Marie,” said George Pirie, Minister of Northern Economic Development and Growth. “By collaborating with local entrepreneurs, we are enriching the lives of those who call Sault Ste. Marie home and do business here.”

Funding is being delivered to the following businesses through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC):

$1 million for the Sault Ste. Marie Airport Development Corporation to fund the construction of a 11,250 square foot storage facility to house aircraft maintenance equipment for JD Aero.
$1 million for Palmer Construction Group Inc. to purchase asphalt recycling equipment that will allow for more efficient and environmentally friendly asphalt production.
$593,926 for China Steel Inc. to purchase new production equipment.
$522,422 for Ontario Concrete Finishing (Soo) Ltd. to purchase a new concrete pump and surveying equipment to expand its market base in Northern Ontario.
$312,535 for Norquay Trusses Ltd., a manufacturer of prefabricated wood building products, to expand its business and create a dedicated facility focused on the production of panel products.
$153,507 for Wolowich Tool, a family-owned business providing tool repair services, to relocate its operations to a newly built service center to increase production capacity.
$121,869 for Rolling Pictures, an audio and video postproduction company, to expand its machine room and purchase new equipment.
$45,277 for Hardwood Hill Enterprises, a family-operated manufacturer of cedar-barrel saunas, to purchase new equipment and construct a new building to increase production capacity.

“These are exactly the kinds of investments that protect Ontario’s future – targeted, local, and rooted in our belief that when northern businesses succeed, our whole province gets stronger,” said Chris Scott, MPP for Sault Ste. Marie. “Whether it’s green tech, manufacturing, aviation, or post-production, this funding helps homegrown innovators scale up, create good jobs, and build a more resilient economy right here in the Soo. I’m proud to stand with Minister Pirie today, and commend him and the NOHFC for their continued leadership in ensuring that Northern Ontario has the tools it needs to thrive.”

The NOHFC fosters economic growth, job creation and workforce development throughout the North, benefiting communities of all sizes, both rural and urban, including Indigenous communities. Since June 2018, the NOHFC has invested more than $905 million in 7,309 projects in Northern Ontario, leveraging more than $2.8 billion in investment and creating or sustaining over 11,210 jobs.

Quick Facts

Through its funding programs, the NOHFC offers support to public and private sector economic development projects across Northern Ontario.

Quotes

“The Sault Ste. Marie Airport Development Corporation (SSMADC) has faced tough challenges since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The recovery has been very slow. With the lack of commercial flights, the SSMADC needed to diversify revenue streams even more. The support of the Ontario government through the NOHFC was crucial in this project being a success, as it is not a project the SSMADC would have been able to carry out on our own in these still challenging times.”
– Terry Bos

President & CEO, Sault Ste. Marie Airport Development Corporation

“We sincerely thank the Ontario government for its valuable support and investment in green paving technologies. This commitment is crucial for building more sustainable infrastructure and fostering innovation for a greener future.”

– Malcolm Croskery

President, Palmer Construction Group Inc.

“Through the support of the Ontario government through the NOHFC, we have been able to invest in the company’s growth and increase its capacity to the City of Sault Ste. Marie. Being locally owned and operated, we strongly believe that our success translates to community success, and we are happy to have the government’s ongoing support.”

– Adam Zalewski

President, Ontario Concrete Finishing (Soo) Ltd.

“We are incredibly grateful to the Ontario government for its support of Norquay Prefab Homes. Norquay has expanded operations to include a dedicated modular prefab panel production line at our facility in Sault Ste. Marie. This support from the Ontario government has allowed us to grow, create local manufacturing jobs, and bring high-quality prefab rapid housing solutions to communities in Ontario.”

– P. Scott Beaumont

President, Norquay Trusses Ltd.

“Wolowich Tool is a new business in Sault Ste. Marie which offers several services that were not previously available in the area including power tool, air tool, and welding machine repair. Ontario government funding through NOHFC has allowed us to scale operations quickly so that we could start offering these much-needed services in a properly equipped facility. This new facility and operation have created several jobs, supports local industry and businesses with their repair needs, and reduces equipment downtime and transportation costs for repair work that was previously sent out of town. I am appreciative of the funding that we have received and so is the community!”
– Scott Wolowich

Owner, Wolowich Tool

“Rolling Pictures began its business in 2012 and, in 2020, expanded to Sault Ste. Marie by building a 4,000 sq. ft. post-production facility to complement its Toronto operations and support Northern Ontario film and TV productions. This growth wouldn’t have been possible without the vital support of the Ontario government through NOHFC. Since establishing in the Soo, Rolling Pictures has built a talented team of nine employees across audio, video, and VFX divisions.”

– George Levai

CFO and GM, Rolling Pictures

Additional Resources

The NOHFC, Northern Development Offices and Small Business Enterprise Centres support northern communities, businesses and other stakeholders in identifying economic development opportunities and government funding programs.