Province announces $2 million in support for Sudbury businesses

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Northern Development Minister Greg Rickford took to the podium at NORCAT on Maley Drive to announce significant support for seven local businesses.

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“I come to Sudbury often,” Rickford noted. “Taxpayers have invested in a handful of companies operating in the Greater Sudbury area… what the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund strives to achieve is to make Northern Ontario a destination for businesses.”

Rickford highlighted the diversity of companies involved: “They range from interior design to other technological innovation spaces.”

The 2 million dollars leverage 11.3 million dollars in economic activity, the minister calculated.

“It helps us build healthy (communities), resilience and economic prosperity,” he said.

Recipients included:

– US$72,000 to Orix Geoscience;

– $97,000 to Lauren Perry Interior Design;

– US$353,000 to BSK Machine Shop for equipment to increase production capacity;

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– $400,000 to expand product and service offerings in Bross Mobile Mechanical Service; and

– $400.00 to Beamish Construction for equipment and marketing of its new microsurfacing division.

Additionally, YES Theater was able to replace outdated equipment after receiving $201,000 from the provincial government.

Scott Dennison, general manager of YES, identified two specific projects that the dollars made possible. The first is a new digital marquee that provides both information. It is also a revenue generator.

“About 24 months ago, our lighting system was deemed unusable, but this funding allowed us to completely change it,” Dennison said. “Additional support came from Heritage Canada and internal funding.

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“It will have its baptism with the production of Oliver in November. It’s a step forward in becoming a sustainable theater company.”

The largest portion of money from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (Rickford is the fund’s president) was allocated to CircuitIQ. The half-million dollars will advance its automated electrical panel power mapping and inspection tool.

This innovative process ensures compliance with electrical safety regulations, as well as reducing the risk of accidents when electricity is involved.

Luke Begley, founder and CEO of CircuitIQ, moved his business and moved his family to Sudbury because of the favorable business environment here. Sudbury was not unknown either.

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“My mother (was born) and raised in Copper Cliff. My mother’s family has 100 years of Copper Cliff. We came every summer. We have five children, ages six to 15, and we know Sudbury is a great place to raise a family. They love it here.

“(The year) 2017 was when it all started and we were incorporated in March of 2020. Originally, we were in Southern Ontario. My co-founder also moved, as did an electrical engineer. Our Sudbury team is from here.”

Begley sees his business as a unique answer to the needs of residential and commercial properties.

“It’s a plug-and-play system,” he said. “This can prove that there are no hidden problems and increase property values.”

Safety is paramount and even labeling can clearly identify what is connected if work needs to be done.

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“There is funding for projects beyond (research and development),” Begley said. “We’ve employed a lot more people since we came to Sudbury. There are prototypes of things we want to expand on. We are now all over North America. We have recently been working on school systems in Pennsylvania and are a market leader in electrical circuit mapping.”

Ian Lane identified CircuitIQ as one of the top Northern Ontario Angels companies managed by his organization. Speaking specifically about last week’s announcement, Lane said: “We are so pleased to hear about this and celebrate with them. We are a part of the investment we will talk about today.”

Don Duval, CEO of NORCAT, reminded the audience that “part of our mandate at NORCAT is to work with existing or potential startups. To help them grow and grow fast.

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“First, we surround them with a range of ancillary services, including access to mentoring or access to talent. One of the main ingredients we work with is access to capital.”

Grant capital and the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund are essential, Duval said. “Many of our companies would not be in the position they are in today without the fund. I can say this categorically.

“We are very fortunate to have a ministry that supports the innovation economy and startups here in Northern Ontario.”

The Local Journalism Initiative is made possible by funding from the federal government.

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