In the news: NOHFC-Funded Internship Projects Boost Innovation in Sault Ste. Marie and Northern Ontario

June 30, 2023

Sault internship programs get provincial boost

Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre, Algoma University among those to benefit

Published by The Sault Star on June 29, 2023

The province is funding, through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corp., 74 job placement opportunities in Sault Ste. Marie, which, the government says, will help businesses expand operations and develop Northern Ontario’s workforce.


Internship projects receiving NOHFC funding include $70,000 for the Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre to hire a data analyst to assist with health, social services and early childhood development projects, and a horticultural research assistant to lead activities and research to develop sustainable horticulture production systems in Northern Ontario.


The Invasive Species Centre will also receive $70,000 to hire a program development intern and a zooplankton diagnostics and research intern to conduct research and analysis that identify and prevent the spread of invasive species affecting Canadian lands and waters.


Algoma University receives $26,248 to hire a database coordinator to assist project research, manage and analyze data, and provide fundraising and administrative support.


“Creating opportunities for youth to explore new career avenues in their community is so important for our local economy,” said Sault Ste. Marie MPP Ross Romano. “The variety of companies and organizations taking advantage of the NOHFC grants includes small businesses, not-for-profits, post-secondary institutions and manufacturers, and shows the diversity of the program.”


Minister of Northern Development Greg Rickford said the province is is making “targeted investments” that create opportunities for local talent to gain essential skills and build “meaningful” careers in Sault Ste. Marie.


“Together with our northern partners, we are creating highly skilled, good-paying jobs that will boost economic growth and prosperity here in the North,” he said.


Since June 2018, NOHFC has directed more than $685 million into 5,656 projects in Northern Ontario, leveraging more than $2.3 billion in investment and creating or sustaining over 9,000 jobs, the province says.


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Learn more about our NOHFC-funded internship projects through Acorn Information Systems and the Rural Agri-Innovation Network (RAIN) division pages.


View the original article on The Sault Star here.

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Northern Ontario Value-Added Agriculture (NOVA) Program Launches

October 11, 2024
The Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre (SSMIC) has launched the Northern Ontario Value-Added Agriculture (NOVA) Program to empower agri-food entrepreneurs across Northern Ontario to develop new food products. By offering workshops, training sessions, networking events, and a mentorship program, NOVA aims to equip Northern entrepreneurs with the essential skills and knowledge needed for long-term business growth and sustainability. Supported by $42,080 in funding from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness, NOVA will address the critical need for professional development in the agri-food sector. It focuses on enhancing entrepreneurial skills, improving safety and risk management practices, and providing strategies to expand market presence at home and abroad. “The agri-food promise and potential of Northern Ontario is immense, and our government will continue to work with Northern partners like the SSMIC to help seize it,” said Rob Flack, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness. “NOVA will help unlock more of the huge untapped entrepreneurial energy and ambition of Northern agri-food entrepreneurs to build strong local businesses, create good-paying jobs and strengthen Northern Ontario’s economy.” Program goals include strengthened business capabilities, job creation, and increased economic activity, leading to a more vibrant and sustainable agri-food sector in Northern Ontario. By fostering public engagement with agriculture and local food, NOVA will also contribute to rural development and enhanced community well-being. "Through the NOVA Program, we are excited to provide agri-food entrepreneurs with the tools and networks they need to thrive," said Peter Bruijns, Executive Director of the Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre. "This initiative not only supports individual businesses but also strengthens our entire region's agricultural ecosystem." For more information visit: https://rainalgoma.ca/programs/the-northern-ontario-value-added-agriculture-nova-training-program/ SSMIC would also like to thank FedNor the Government of Canada, and the Sault Ste Marie Community Development Corporation for their support in this exciting program. 

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