FedNor Invests Nearly $500,000 in Northwestern Ontario Agri-Food Hub
KENORA — The federal government is investing $499,780 to help establish a regional food hub in Kenora aimed at supporting agri-food entrepreneurs, increasing local food production and strengthening food sovereignty across Northwestern Ontario.
Patty Hajdu, Minister of Jobs and Families and minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario, announced the funding Wednesday for the Northwestern Ontario Innovation Centre.
The money will support the development of the Food Enterprises Advancement and SME Transformation program, known as FEAST.
The three-year project will be based at Seven Generations Education Institute and is expected to directly support nearly 20 small and medium-sized businesses.
Food Hub Will Provide Commercial Kitchen and Business Support
The FEAST program will provide agri-food entrepreneurs with access to manufacturing equipment, advisory services, training and targeted financial assistance.
Participants will be able to use a commercial kitchen, refrigerators, packing areas and storage space. The hub will also offer business-development assistance from Northwestern Ontario Innovation Centre staff and industry experts.
The program is intended to help start-ups and small-scale food manufacturers increase production, meet regulatory requirements and prepare their products for larger retail and food-service markets.
FedNor said the project could also help businesses become ready to enter new export markets.
Access to shared commercial facilities can be a significant challenge for small food producers in Northwestern Ontario, where the distance between communities and major markets can increase transportation, storage and processing costs.
The hub is intended to address gaps in co-packing and storage infrastructure that can prevent small businesses from expanding.
Focus on Indigenous Entrepreneurs
Seven Generations Education Institute will serve as the project’s delivery partner and host site.
The Indigenous-led education organization provides secondary school, post-secondary, employment training and cultural programming throughout Treaty 3 and surrounding areas.
Its involvement is expected to ensure that Indigenous entrepreneurs have access to culturally relevant business services and training.
“We are proud to support lifelong learning for everyone across the Treaty 3 area,” Seven Generations CEO Brent Tookenay said in a statement.
“As a FEAST program partner, SGEI will empower local entrepreneurs as they seek to grow their businesses. We’re excited for the valuable opportunities this partnership will bring to our region.”
The project could be particularly important for First Nations and smaller communities where food prices are affected by long transportation distances and limited access to processing and storage infrastructure.
Supporting more regional production does not eliminate those challenges, but it can help retain more food-related economic activity within Northwestern Ontario.
Program Targets Barriers to Business Growth
Northwestern Ontario Innovation Centre executive director Richard Gemmill said many regional food and agricultural technology businesses need access to commercial facilities and specialized support to reach the next stage of development.
“There are many great businesses in Northwestern Ontario tied to the food and agri-tech sectors that just need a little support or access to a commercial kitchen space to get them to the next level,” Gemmill said.
“This program will provide that support and, in turn, help our communities and the sector as a whole across Northwestern Ontario grow and prosper.”
The innovation centre works with entrepreneurs and companies across the region to help businesses start, grow and commercialize new products.
Through FEAST, businesses will be able to receive assistance with production planning, regulatory compliance, packaging and market readiness.
Those services could help entrepreneurs move beyond small-batch production and compete for contracts with retailers, restaurants, institutions and distributors.
Building Regional Food Capacity
Food sovereignty refers to the ability of communities and regions to have greater control over how food is produced, distributed and accessed.
For Northwestern Ontario, that issue is connected to geography, transportation costs, climate, limited processing capacity and reliance on products shipped over long distances.
A regional food hub could help shorten parts of the supply chain by allowing more products to be processed and packaged closer to where they are grown or produced.
The project could also create opportunities for businesses involved in agriculture, harvesting, prepared foods, catering and value-added products.
However, the long-term impact will depend on participation, market demand and whether businesses using the facility can successfully increase production and secure new customers.
Federal Funding Provided Through Regional Innovation Program
The investment is being provided through FedNor’s Regional Economic Growth through Innovation program.
The fund supports Northern Ontario businesses seeking to expand, enter new markets or adopt new technologies and production processes.
Hajdu said the Kenora food hub is intended to strengthen local businesses and make the region’s food economy more self-reliant.
“When we support projects like the regional food hub, we are backing local entrepreneurs and building a stronger, more self-reliant food economy in Northwestern Ontario,” Hajdu said.
“Strong local economies are the building blocks of a more resilient Canada, one that can support its people and create lasting benefits.”
The FEAST program will be delivered over three years. Additional details about applications, eligibility and program intake were not included in the funding announcement.
