![The Bijou Theatre back in the day in downtown Kenora](https://www.netnewsledger.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/bijou-Kenora.jpg)
KENORA – “Launching a new business can be a daunting challenge, especially for new entrepreneurs. Our support is helping to put the dream of business ownership within the reach of many northerners and encouraging a new generation to build their future close to home,” stated Rick Barolucci, Ontario’s Minister of Northern Development and Mines and Chair of the NOHFC.
The Ontario government announced support for four businesses in the Kenora Rainy River region of Northwestern Ontario at the end of December.
With support from the province’s Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC), four entrepreneurs are establishing new businesses and growing the region’s economy:
- The Bijou Steakhouse, a 55-seat restaurant in Kenora.
- Rainy River Cereal, a wild rice cereal company in Fort Frances.
- Stanley’s Foam Insulation, a spray foam insulation business in Vermilion Bay.
- Finland Corners, a 30-seat restaurant with an attached convenience store in Emo.
The Bijou Steakhouse recently opened in the heart of the downtown Kenora and pays tribute to the Bijou Theater that made its home in Kenora until 1955. This uniquely nostalgic venue not only hosts live music and film events, it’s one of a kind menu is presented by Chef de Cuisine Mark Wrigley.
Rainy River Cereal states, “A top marketing executive wishing to be the agent for promoting the cereal , is quoted as comparing the discovery of ‘popped wild rice cereal’ as the biggest significant cereal breakthrough since ‘quaker oats and muslix”. The company states, “The cereal invented and patented by Shirley and Andrew Atwell as GLUTEN FREE, awesome in taste, is said to add years to the mortality rate of aboriginal peoples for centuries, whose array of natural staples is led by fish, wild game and ‘manomin’ or ‘wild rice’ as the europeans came to know it as”.
Stanley’s Foam Insulation owner Rob Wisneski states, “Stanley’s Spray foam now services the area and can fill the needs of our residential, commercial or Industrial customers. We service from Vermilion Bay north to Red Lake and from Dryden to Ignace and Sioux Lookout. We also take stock in the point that your project is important to us no matter how small in size. That’s the great part about spray foam insulation. It can fit the smallest application, right up to the largest”.
The investments from the NOHFC will generate sixteen new jobs.
Backgrounder NOHFC
The Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) offers seven funding programs designed to help municipalities, entrepreneurs and businesses build, expand and grow. We are investing in a strong and prosperous North and look forward to hearing about your ideas on how to bring new economic opportunities to the region.
Many businesses across the region can benefit from the support. For more information on the eligibility and types of support visit www.nohfc.ca.