Boring mill anything but dull (19 photos)

While $475,000 can buy some pretty sharp equipment that's really not the point says Soo Foundry and Machine Ltd. President Robert Cohen.

"It's great that the province is finally recognizing the value of existing small businesses to the community," he said today after Sault MP David Orazietti announced funding for the company to pay for two new pieces of equipment, one of which is a boring mill.

The point is that the province is helping Soo Foundry help young people get skills and stay in their home town when they hire apprentices to run the new machines.

It's helping Soo Foundry support local industry of all sizes and configurations with the unique pieces of equipment that, in all of Northern Ontario, only Soo Foundry can machine, because of the new equipment.

It's also helping Soo Foundry stay on the cutting edge of its industry, especially when the company has invested thousands of dollars in new buildings in which to house those new pieces of equipment.

And the point hasn't been overworked, yet.

SooFoundry has a plan to expand its workforce by 30 to 50 new full time, skilled jobs when it continues its planned development, building off the new equipment funded by Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation.

The full text of a release from Orazietti's office follows.

************************* Orazietti announces $475,000 for local business to expand and upgrade equipment

Province continues to strengthen Sault’s economy with increased NOHFC funding

SAULT STE. MARIE, ON - The province is continuing to support businesses in Sault Ste. Marie through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC), which is providing a targeted investment of up to $475,000 to support the purchase of new hydroelectric equipment at Soo Foundry & Machine, David Orazietti MPP, announced today.

“Our government is continuing to help local businesses expand, attract new work, and create more jobs, which is important to strengthening Sault Ste. Marie's economy,” said Orazietti. “Since 2003, the province has made creating economic opportunities in northern Ontario a top priority by increasing the NOHFC’s budget from $60 million to $100 million in order to support greater innovation and the growth of new technologies that help to diversify our local economy.”

The NOHFC is supporting Soo Foundry & Machine, a company that has extensive knowledge and experience in the hydroelectric sector, in order for it to purchase new equipment, such as a horizontal boring mill, plate rolls and other tools that will allow it to compete for large projects that have traditionally been awarded to companies in southern Ontario.

The province delivered the funding through the NOHFC’s Enterprise North Job Creation Program, which supports Northern businesses in order to protect and create local jobs.

This investment is helping protect eight jobs and it is expected to create two more jobs that will contribute to strengthening the economy.

"Soo Foundry really appreciates the support it received from NOHFC to expand and diversify its business,” said Robert Cohen, president of Soo Foundry & Machine.

“Manufacturing is a challenging business requiring ongoing capital investments to support growth, innovation, and keep up with changes in technology. Soo Foundry employs a highly skilled workforce including many trades people and apprentices who will benefit from provincial capital being invested into local businesses. As a company that has been operating in our city for many years with a very sizable investment in buildings and equipment, NOHFC's support gives us the confidence to continue to create new opportunities."

Since 2003, the province has approved over $47 million for over 400 NOHFC projects in Sault Ste. Marie.

These investments have resulted in new jobs and allowed for over $108 million in infrastructure and business projects to be completed.

The provincial government’s four previous budgets have each increased the NOHFC’s funding by a further $10 million per year from $60 million in 2007 to 100 million in 2011 to support vital community infrastructure and economic development projects that create jobs and enhance the quality of life for Northerners.

When in government, the provincial NDP cut the NOHFC’s entire budget and put it into the province’s general revenue which shortchanged Northerners.

In addition, the provincial NDP have voted against all of the increases to the NOHFC and the projects that it has supported in Sault Ste. Marie.

Some of the key NOHFC investments in Sault Ste. Marie include: - $5 million Agawa Canyon Tour Train

- $2.5 million Heliene Solar Manufacturing Plant

- $2.3 million for Algoma University Biosciences and Technology building ($10.3 million total)

- $2.1 million Flakeboard Ltd. expansion

- $2 million Ellsin Environmental Ltd.: tire recycling plant

- $2 million Sault College: IT infrastructure, Multi-Media Centre, Wind Energy Training Centre

- $1.6 million Hub Trail & Waterfront Walkway expansion ($3.1 million total)

- $1.5 million West End Recreation Centre ($6.2 million total)

- $1.5 million for Sault College academic building ($9.5 million total)

- $1.5 million Huron Central Rail upgrades ($16.5 million total)

- $1.4 million for the Sault Ste. Marie Airport Development Corporation

- $1 million Essar Centre ($4.7 million total)

- $1 million Algoma Public Health building: technology ($8.3 million total)

- $1 million City: Emergency Response Centre (EMS) ($2.2 million total).

Photo caption: Brenda Chartrand, Pat Egan and David Orazietti at Soo Foundry and Machine. The provincial government provided $475,000 toward the purchase of new equipment to support additional employment and the company invested over $2 million in a new building and equipment.

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