Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund to receive $4.4 million over next three years

Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund will receive $4.4 million over the next three years and representatives of the fund say 105 jobs will be created with the money. Greg Rickford, minister of state for Science and Technology, and FedNor (Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario), and minister responsible for the Ring of Fire, announced the funding on Aug. 14 in Thunder Bay. The funding will focus on helping nine Matawa communities develop business opportunities and derive long-term economic benefit from mining-related developments. “We’re looking at setting up eight full-time equivalent positions within the organization to implement the program, said Brian Davey, executive director. NADF will also create 10 full-time business information officer positions and two community planner positions. “Most of this program concentrates on the Ring of Fire, for various obvious reasons,” Davey said. “It’s a large area of development, but generally speaking, NADF celebrates all of its successes throughout all of NAN.” Davey said the NADF and the federal government are looking for results. “We have to be very careful in what we do, and how it’s done. If we are teaching people and trying to create the entrepreneurial culture, we have to make sure we hit our targets. We can’t sway from our game chart,” Davey said.