Several small businesses in Minnesota have received a financial shot in the arm.
More $4.3 million in grants and loans provided by the Pohlad Family Foundation were distributed to over 70 businesses, including at least one unnamed company in Koochiching County.
The money was made available to eligible businesses to help retain employment.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Economic Workshops Planned
Band council members and staff at a Rainy River area First Nation will be strengthening their knowledge about economic development.
Naicatchewenin First Nation is receiving provincial funding to cover the cost of two training workshops.
The objectives of the workshops are to analyse the community's current economic performance, identify specific economic objectives and complete a strategic economic development plan.
Naicatchewenin First Nation is receiving provincial funding to cover the cost of two training workshops.
The objectives of the workshops are to analyse the community's current economic performance, identify specific economic objectives and complete a strategic economic development plan.
Low Demand for Enhanced Driver's Licences
Demand for the new enhanced driver's license has not been as strong as expected by the Ontario government.
The province has mailed out almost 8,700 of the land and water alternatives to the Canadian passport for travel to the U.S.
A spokesman for Transportation Minister Jim Bradley says the slightly lower demand is being attributed to the economic downturn and the ``current soft-enforcement approach'' by border officials.
The card costs Ontario drivers $40 on top of the regular $75 license fee.
The province has mailed out almost 8,700 of the land and water alternatives to the Canadian passport for travel to the U.S.
A spokesman for Transportation Minister Jim Bradley says the slightly lower demand is being attributed to the economic downturn and the ``current soft-enforcement approach'' by border officials.
The card costs Ontario drivers $40 on top of the regular $75 license fee.
Forest Fire Fighting Efforts in B.C. Continue
More than 600 Ministry of Natural Resources personnel are now helping crews wrestle with forest fires in British Columbia.
Fire information officer Debbie MacLean says 28 FireRangers and 15 staff trained in values protection equipment headed for the B.C. fire lines earlier this week.
Raging forest fires have forced droves of people out of their homes in British Columbia over the past few weeks.
Smoke from fires in western Canada is also making its way into some parts of northwestern Ontario.
The MNR says upper level atmospheric conditions has caused smoke to drift in from as far away as the Yukon.
The presence of that smoke has led to some calls to the forest fire reporting hotline.
Currently there are no active fires in the region.
Meantime, the fire hazard in northwestern Ontario is beginning to rise once again.
Recent warm weather has moved the hazard to high along the Rainy Rainy River district.
Fire information officer Debbie MacLean says 28 FireRangers and 15 staff trained in values protection equipment headed for the B.C. fire lines earlier this week.
Raging forest fires have forced droves of people out of their homes in British Columbia over the past few weeks.
Smoke from fires in western Canada is also making its way into some parts of northwestern Ontario.
The MNR says upper level atmospheric conditions has caused smoke to drift in from as far away as the Yukon.
The presence of that smoke has led to some calls to the forest fire reporting hotline.
Currently there are no active fires in the region.
Meantime, the fire hazard in northwestern Ontario is beginning to rise once again.
Recent warm weather has moved the hazard to high along the Rainy Rainy River district.
Tower to Be Painted
A former forest fire observation tower being placed on the Fort Frances waterfront will get a paint job after all.
The town had initially looked to pressure-washing the tower before reinstalling the local landmark, but Community Services Manager George Bell says the effort to remove the existing paint isn't working.
"We just couldn't get it off sufficient enough to make it look refurbished," says Bell. "What they will be doing though is testing the paint that's left on it to ensure it has appropriate enough adhesion to paint on it and it won't peel off."
Cost to paint the tower is pegged at $34,500.
The town had initially looked to pressure-washing the tower before reinstalling the local landmark, but Community Services Manager George Bell says the effort to remove the existing paint isn't working.
"We just couldn't get it off sufficient enough to make it look refurbished," says Bell. "What they will be doing though is testing the paint that's left on it to ensure it has appropriate enough adhesion to paint on it and it won't peel off."
Cost to paint the tower is pegged at $34,500.
Runway to Close
A "cross runway" at the Fort Frances airport will be shut down at the end of September.
Councillor Paul Ryan says the runway, built more than 20 years ago, has fallen into disrepair.
“The secondary runway is not eligible for Transport Canada funding, as it is not used by scheduled passenger flights and it is estimated to cost approximately $1 million," says Ryan, "I think it will be over that—to rehabilitate and repave.
The runway is mainly utilized by small aircraft when there is a substantial crosswind, but less than 5 per cent of all aircraft using the airport last year, used the runway.
Councillor Paul Ryan says the runway, built more than 20 years ago, has fallen into disrepair.
“The secondary runway is not eligible for Transport Canada funding, as it is not used by scheduled passenger flights and it is estimated to cost approximately $1 million," says Ryan, "I think it will be over that—to rehabilitate and repave.
The runway is mainly utilized by small aircraft when there is a substantial crosswind, but less than 5 per cent of all aircraft using the airport last year, used the runway.
Meeting Sought with IJC
The Rainy Lake Conservancy wants the group overseeing the waters along the Canada-U.S. border to review a proposed hydro-electric project on the Namakan River.
Ojibway Power and Energy Group, a partnership involving the Lac La Croix First Nation, is proposing the run-of-the-river project.
Conservancy member Paul Anderson says the IJC needs to review the impact the project may have on the Rainy Lake Watershed.
"They say they'll look at, but we're getting a little frustrated they haven't looked at it yet," says Anderson. "The hydro project has been in the planning stages for three years now."
Anderson says they're hoping for a private meeting with the IJC when they meet in International Falls later this month.
Ojibway Power and Energy Group, a partnership involving the Lac La Croix First Nation, is proposing the run-of-the-river project.
Conservancy member Paul Anderson says the IJC needs to review the impact the project may have on the Rainy Lake Watershed.
"They say they'll look at, but we're getting a little frustrated they haven't looked at it yet," says Anderson. "The hydro project has been in the planning stages for three years now."
Anderson says they're hoping for a private meeting with the IJC when they meet in International Falls later this month.
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