Fabrene Inc., Nipissing First Nation’s Mnogin Greenhouse, MetricAid Inc., and Stroma Automation Solutions were among the recipients
More than $2.1 million through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) will support 68 work placements across Nipissing District.
The announcement was made Friday morning at MetricAid Inc., in downtown North Bay.
The funding, part of NOHFC’s Workforce Development Program, will help local employers create job placements that give people practical work experience in fields like skilled trades, manufacturing, and healthcare.
“[It] provides internship opportunities for a variety of companies and organizations, including small businesses, not-for-profits, post-secondary institutions, and manufacturers,” said Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli.
The funding supports several Nipissing employers.
Fabrene Inc. received $70,000 to hire two apprentices—an industrial mechanic (millwright) and a construction and maintenance electrician. Nipissing First Nation’s Mnogin Greenhouse was awarded $35,000 for a system operator intern. MetricAid Inc. received $25,869 for a scheduler, and Stroma Automation Solutions in Callander received $19,342 to hire an electrical and instrumentation technician.
MetricAid CEO Lora Webb says the program helps her company continue to grow and maintain jobs in northern Ontario.
“We are grateful for the support of the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation, which continues to strengthen businesses and communities across the north,” Webb said.
“This funding helps organizations like ours grow sustainably, create new opportunities, and contribute to the long-term vitality of the region. With this support, we can expand our work while staying rooted in northern Ontario, ensuring local communities share in the benefits of innovation and economic development.”
Webb says the funding helps MetricAid bring on schedulers who work with hospitals and healthcare providers across Canada and abroad.
“These are the people who serve our clients every day. They might be building a schedule for a hospital in Calgary or Boston, but they’re doing that work right here in North Bay,” she said.
For smaller employers, the funding can ease the cost of hiring and training. Claudel Leveille, director of Stroma Automation Solutions, says it made a personal difference for him.
“Before my company received this funding, I really wanted to grow, but honestly, I was scared to take that next step,” Leveille said.
“The NOHFC funding changed that completely. It gave me the confidence, the breathing room I needed, and actually moved me forward.”
Fedeli pointed to the broader impact of NOHFC programs in Nipissing.
“Locally, the NOHFC has invested more than $161 million in 928 projects in the Nipissing area. That investment leveraged more than $722 million in investments, creating and sustaining 1,640 jobs,” he said.
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