Elliot Lake is betting on its future as a tourism and industrial hub.
The city of 11,000, located about two hours west of Sudbury, was the site of an Oct. 17 FedNor funding announcement of $1.696 million, which will go toward three projects.
Of the funds, the largest chunk — $1.6 million — will go toward the East Algoma Community Futures Development Corp. to support its operating costs over the next five years.
The funds will be used to provide business counselling and investment services to small and medium-sized businesses, along with leadership in community strategic planning and socioeconomic development.
According to FedNor, the organization helped more than 50 businesses over the previous five years. Its catchment area is more than 120,000 square kilometres, extending from St. Joseph Island in the west to Spanish in the east.
“We are very proud of the work we do in supporting local businesses, organizations, and their communities,” Shawn Heard, the organization’s general manager, said in a news release.
“Every person here at the East Algoma Community Futures Development Corporation loves this area, and these FedNor funds will help us to directly build our home communities. We look forward to continuing to collaborate with and help entrepreneurs and their businesses succeed.”
The remaining funds will go to the City of Elliot Lake for two projects.
A total of $72,000 will be used to develop a detailed tourism strategy, while the last $24,000 will help the city complete infrastructure service for a new industrial park development, including project design and the electrical hookup of a lift station.
“Our community is a special place, home to welcoming, hardworking people, and we are excited to share Elliot Lake with the world,” Mayor Andrew Wannan said in the release. “We are a small city of big outdoors and bigger hearts, and FedNor’s support is helping us to expand local businesses and capitalize on opportunities to showcase this beautiful area to people far and wide.”
