Timmins’ hard work from 2015 seems to be paying off this year as the new Industrial Rail Park attracts new investors from around the globe.
“These new industries are bringing more than new investments to the community,” says Fred Gibbons, Chair of the Timmins Economic Development Corporation (TEDC). They’ll support our current economy, more specifically; the mining industry that still remains our backbone.”
Rail access was a major element when Calabrian reached out to the Timmins Economic Development Corporation from Texas in 2015. The company was searching for suitable locations to set up a new sulphur dioxide (SO2) CleanTM production facility.
Fast forward into 2016, the company that aimed to bring 20 new highly skilled manufacturing jobs to Timmins has already taken on 16 new employees before opening. They plan to be fully operational by the end of the year.
Timmins isn’t new to liquid sulphur dioxide as it is used in the gold mining extraction process, which is why Calabrian found the city to be an ideal location to step into the Canadian marketplace.
The mining history in the community also contributed to Timmins being an ideal location for Tianlong Basalt Co., Ltd. Counsellor Yijun Song, from The Embassy of Canada in Beijing, participated in the 2015 Prospectors and Developers Conference on behalf of the Chinese firm looking to help stimulate and promote investment and trade between China and Ontario.
Last year, the TEDC accompanied the Mayor on a trade mission to sign a Letter of Intent, Gibbons explained. They returned this year as one of the delegates in Justin Trudeau’s trade delegation to solidify the deal with the Chinese investor.
Bolat Materials will also support the regional mining corporations once their production facility opens. “The team met with the company at The Big Event in Timmins to evaluate the city as a location to build their ground support manufacturing plant.”
The TEDC continues to search for locations that are suitable for the Indian firm’s production plant where they will create systems to stabilize the underground environment of mining worksites and prevent floors from shifting or falling on miners. Along with the plan to create 50 jobs within the first 5 years of operations, Bolat Materials will sell their manufactured products directly to the mining companies in the region.
“Not all of our future investments will set up shop along the new Industrial Rail Park, but its creation has been a great base to start discussions with other investors about the resources and opportunities available in the city.”
