Nicole Grigorov, owner of the Mattawa insists her business is still running and not potentially shutting down due to the lodge's provincial funding controversy.
The owner and operator of the Mattawa River Resort and Cardinal Lodge, says the province promised her $147,000 in grant money through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation. Instead she says she has only received $18,000.
"I am so frustrated with this whole process, I was denied twice, I appealed and I finally won, but they said I was not tourism," Grigorov told BayToday on Friday.
See related: Local resort owner angry over funding mix-up
However, Grigorov says the story of her financial funding shortfall was interpreted in a very wrong way by some of her clients which included people calling and wanting to cancel due to concerns over the future of the Lodge the Grigorov's purchased in the summer of 2017.
"We are hosting sledders," said Grigorov referring to a photo she sent BayToday on Sunday.
"We are open for business, not closing!"
Grigorov admits she has let some staff go but she insists more staff will be hired for the busy summer months.
"We are hiring for the summer as well as booking family reunions and corporate retreats," she said.
Despite not getting the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation monies, she is determined to still persevere.
