THUNDER BAY, ONT. — The Ontario government is investing $15 million in ongoing annual funding through the Northern Ontario Resource Development Support (NORDS) Fund to help northern municipalities improve local infrastructure.
According to a release, the NORDS Fund helps municipalities invest in infrastructure such as roads and bridges, access new economic opportunities through resource development and mitigate the impacts of resource development on local infrastructure.
All 144 northern Ontario municipalities, as defined under the Places to Grow Act, 2005, are eligible to receive this funding. Municipalities will have an opportunity to submit projects through Transfer Payment Ontario later this summer.
The Ministry of Northern Economic Development and Growth will contact municipalities with next steps and funding details, the release adds.
Here are some examples of projects supported through the fund:
- The City of Timmins received $400,000 to reconstruct a 16-kilometre section of Highway 101 to mitigate the impacts caused by the transportation of resources extracted by nearby forestry and mining operations.
- The Municipality of Shuniah received $129,994 to rehabilitate Lakeshore Drive, a roadway used by mining and forestry industries.
- The Town of Smooth Rock Falls received $76,797 for a watermain extension project.
Since its inception in 2021, NORDS has provided $75 million to fund municipal infrastructure projects across the north.
