Business

While not yet making a financial commitment in the 2008 budget, Fort Frances council tentatively is supporting a possible agreement with FedNor that would boost the cash flow for economic development here.
Stressing that the matter still is in the proposal stage, Geoff Gillon of the Rainy River Future Development Corp. told councillors Monday he’s in discussions with FedNor to enter into a three-year agreement, where FedNor would provide funds to match money the town puts forward for certain economic development projects.

Economic development will be one of the major focuses for the Town of Fort Frances in 2008, according to Mayor Roy Avis, and that area may get a much-needed boost if town council decides to allocate an extra $50,000 to it in this year’s budget.
“Right now, we pay a per capita fee to the Rainy River Future Development Corp. to run the town’s economic development,” Mayor Avis noted yesterday, explaining that at $7 per capita, this equals about $51,000 right now.

The Business Retention & Expansion “red flag” committee met in late December with Community Development Officer Cassandra Parise to help identify any “red flag” issues that local businesses face.
The “red flag” meetings are held to identify business concerns, provide requested information, and facilitate immediate responses to such issues.
Parise reported the success of the BR+E project is highly dependent on the effectiveness of the follow-up activities.

The Business Retention & Expansion task force committee recently met with the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce’s new community development officer, Cassandra Parise, for a status update on the project.
“This was the first time I met with the task force, and the first time the task force has met since May, so there was a lot of discussion,” noted Parise.
“I am thankful I have such a great group of people working with me on this project.”

MONTREAL—The fears of AbitibiBowater Inc. employees have come true after the newly-merged company announced yesterday it will embark on a sweeping restructuring of its pulp and paper operations affecting 2,600 jobs in Canada and the United States.
In addition to closing or idling more than half-a-dozen mills in Quebec, New Brunswick, Ontario, British Columbia, and Texas, the Montreal-headquartered company also wants to re-open its labour contracts as part of the cost-cutting efforts.

Canada Safeway staff chose Fort Frances youth William Moody Jr. as the focus of their 2007-08 “We Care” campaign.
Moody suffers from spina bifida and uses a wheelchair to get around, and fundraising efforts will go towards buying a lift for Moody’s home to better allow him to go up and down stairs to leave or enter the house.
Canada Safeway is aiming to raise $15,000 to help purchase and install the lift.
Fundraising, which will include the sale of coupon books and “top up” days at the local store, will start some time next month and carry on through June.

Andrew George recently received $15,000 from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund to start up a new media business, which will offer audio, video, and media management services within the Rainy River District and surrounding areas.
“I record bands, do videos, and manage bands and media projects, helping each project reach its full potential,” the 21-year-old Fort Frances resident noted.
He explained his business, called “All Good Projects,” will not only offer these services, but there will also be a production element.

The Fort Frances Network Services has entered into an agreement to sell its interest in the Norwest Mobility network to TBayTel.
The sole shareholder—the Town of Fort Frances, represented by council—passed a resolution last Tuesday (Nov. 13) to pursue the sale of its interest in the business venture after careful review of an external business valuation that was presented by the Fort Frances Network Services board of directors.

The Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce, in its continuing effort to improve the economic, civic, and social well-being of the district, is pleased to announce Cassandra Parise as its new community development officer.
Parise’s main responsibility with the Chamber will be the Business Retention and Expansion (BR&E) project.

After staging a second successful “Chefs’ Charitable Dinner and Auction” back in January, the local Alzheimer’s Society once again is planning a fundraiser with the focus on food.
Margaret Schonewille, executive director of the Alzheimer Society for the Kenora/Rainy River districts, said Monday she’s already started organizing the dinner, which is slated for Sunday, Jan. 20 at the Adventure Inn. It will start at 5 p.m.
Schonewille said last year’s dinner netted more than $5,000 and generated quite a bit of positive feedback—spurring her on to hold it here for a third year.