Three downtown projects to benefit from provincial funding

Downtown North Bay will be benefitting from a major funding announcement from MPP Vic Fedeli. 

On Friday, Fedeli announced that the Ontario government is providing $2,315,912 through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) to five community enhancement projects in Nipissing.

Fedeli believes this investment will help build a stronger Ontario by supporting critical infrastructure and improving quality of life in the North.

"Our government is enhancing community infrastructure to promote healthier and more vibrant communities with a higher quality of life for residents,” said Vic Fedeli, MPP for Nipissing in a release. 

“We will continue to foster a strong future in our region by supporting economic growth, and reaffirming the North as a great place to call home.”

Three of those projects are located near the North Bay downtown core with a combined total of just over $1.9 million. 

A total of $801,198 is going to the City of North Bay to build All-Wheel Park, an inclusive, free play park in the downtown core for BMX bikes, skateboards, scooters, rollerblades, rollerskates and wheelchairs.

Another $690,451 is going to the City of North Bay to revitalize downtown’s Main Street, which includes landscaping, upgrading pedestrian sidewalks and street lighting, as well as installing low-voltage electrical power for film industry use

Last but not least, another $437,693 is going to the City of North Bay to build Museum Playground, an accessible, boat-themed playground in the downtown core

"What these projects do is they bring people downtown and what they do is the more people that are brought downtown will benefit the businesses so everything is related to growth and economic development and by bringing all these attractions downtown that will then support the retail industry," said Ian Kilgour, director of community development and growth with the City of North Bay. 

David Euler, chief administration officer for the City of North Bay is excited to see the projects take shape. 

“These three projects are a part of an overall vision for North Bay’s downtown and waterfront – one that has been in the works for a number of years and has been driven by community input,” said Euler. 

“Thanks to the support and collaboration of our provincial partners, it’s exciting to see that this vision is taking shape.”

Another $372,510 is earmarked for the Municipality of Callander to renovate Bill Barber Arena, which includes pouring a new concrete floor and replacing rink boards

The final  $14,060 of funding will to go the Friends of Laurier Woods Inc. to replace and widen the two boardwalks within North Bay’s Laurier Woods Conservation Area.

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.

Since June 2018, the NOHFC has invested more than $575 million in 4,835 projects in Northern Ontario, leveraging more than $1.86 billion in investment and creating or sustaining over 7,770 jobs.