Government of Canada investing nearly $1.4 million in the building construction sector in Northwestern Ontario
News release
Federal funding will help support economic growth while addressing housing and industry demands
November 17, 2023 – Thunder Bay, ON – Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario – FedNor
The Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services, Minister responsible for FedNor, and Member of Parliament for Thunder Bay—Superior North, today announced a FedNor investment of $1,380,000 in Smart Modular Canada, a Thunder Bay-based business that designs, manufactures, ships, and installs modular buildings. FedNor’s investment will help Smart Modular Canada expand operations. Minister Hajdu was joined by Marcus Powlowski, Member of Parliament for Thunder Bay—Rainy River, in making the announcement.
This investment will support a quickly-growing business in a critical sector, and will foster continued economic growth in Northern Ontario by supporting other sectors in the region. This initiative will allow Smart Modular Canada to meet market demands, which includes addressing housing gaps in First Nations communities and infrastructure needs in natural resource sectors such as mining and forestry.
Smart Modular Canada also provides training programs that develop needed trade skills. The company has focused on youth in First Nation communities, offering training for the workers, as well as both mentoring and career opportunities in the construction industry.
This investment is anticipated to create 15 jobs and to triple production of modular homes while also reducing waste.
Quotes
“Investing in housing construction innovators like Smart Modular is key to building more affordable housing. This investment will help scale up a one-of-a-kind Northern Ontario business. On top of creating good-paying jobs in the region, it also provides concrete support to remote and Indigenous communities that have important housing needs.”
- The Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services and Minister responsible for FedNor
“This is a fantastic investment: it’s going to create jobs and build our economy by growing a local business. It will also help address a serious need as many communities in Thunder Bay and the surrounding district struggle with affordable housing. Smart Modular Canada provides a unique service in Northern Ontario, and so supporting them means not only a chance to multiply successes but also to fill a gap.”
- Marcus Powlowski, Member of Parliament for Thunder Bay—Rainy River
“We are proud to partner with FedNor in building Northern Ontario. This investment is going to help us to keep expanding, to create new, high-skill jobs, and to meet the housing needs of the region.”
- Bill Boulton, President of Smart Modular Canada
Quick facts
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Smart Modular Canada’s mission is to manufacture affordable, quality homes and buildings they can be proud of.
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Smart Modular Canada is the only modular home manufacturing facility in Northwestern Ontario.
- Their facility, equipment, and technology, as well as their highly-skilled workers, allow them to provide high-quality housing builds year round and more efficiently compared to on-site constructed.
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The funds announced today are provided through FedNor’s Northern Ontario Development Program (NODP), through which FedNor invests in projects led by municipalities, First Nations, and other organizations and institutions that support community economic development, diversification, job creation and self-reliant communities in Northern Ontario.
- Since 2015, FedNor has provided more than $314 million in NODP funding to support 894 projects across Northern Ontario.
Associated links
Contacts
Simon Ross
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Indigenous Services and Minister responsible for FedNor
simon.ross@sac-isc.gc.ca
Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario
Media Relations
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