FedNor is the Government of Canada's economic development organization for Northern Ontario, and as such, it is key to helping deliver on the federal government's Prosperity and Growth Strategy for Northern Ontario.
Through its programs and services, and through its financial support of projects that lead to job creation and economic growth, FedNor works with businesses and community partners to build a stronger Northern Ontario.
FedNor has two main funding vehicles, the Northern Ontario Development Program (NODP), which focuses on community economic development, and the Regional Economic Growth through Innovation (REGI) program, which focuses on business scale-up and productivity, and regional innovation ecosystems.
Through the Community Futures Program, FedNor also supports a network of 24 Community Futures Development Corporations (CFDCs) across Northern Ontario. These locally driven CFDCs provide business financing and services, as well as support for community-based economic development projects.
Also, as the need is determined and priorities change, FedNor delivers other Government of Canada programs designed to contribute to economic development in Northern Ontario. Recent examples include the Economic Development Initiative (EDI) for Official Language Minority Communities and the Black Entrepreneurship Program National Ecosystem Fund that are helping to strengthen business and entrepreneurial support for underrepresented groups.
In addition to its efforts through these funding vehicles, FedNor is strongly focused on outreach and collaboration efforts that engage community leaders and stakeholders as we work to better meet the current and future needs of Northern Ontario. FedNor does this by identifying and actively leading important files including the emerging Ring of Fire mining development – considered a multi-generational mining opportunity that could re-shape Northern Ontario's economy – as well as by collaborating with our federal partners to ensure Northerners have full access to the wide slate of programs and services offered by the Government of Canada.
In short, FedNor is your federal partner in Northern Ontario.