Excellence in Community Economic Development 2024 - Atikokan Economic Development Corporation скачать в хорошем качестве

Excellence in Community Economic Development 2024 - Atikokan Economic Development Corporation

SAULT STE. MARIE, Ontario — Community Futures Ontario announced the Ukrainian Refugee Support project as winner of the 2024 Award of Excellence for Community Economic Development at its annual conference, held in Sault Ste. Marie June 2-4, 2024. The initiative began in January 2022 to address a labour shortage at the Resolute Forest Products mill in Atikokan, Ontario. Atikokan Economic Development Corporation, one of 60 Community Futures Development Corporations in the province, worked in partnership with the company, helping it in its efforts to find interim accommodations for Ukrainian refugees within in the community. To date, more than 100 Ukrainian refugees have settled Atikokan. The influx has increased the community’s population by 5 percent and enabled the company’s sawmill to double the number of its shifts. With Atikokan Economic Development Corporation’s help, Resolute Forest Products converted an empty hotel into living quarters for the newcomers, equipped with laundry and gym facilities. The refugee project is helping to revitalize the community and open the door to growth opportunities while assisting with a humanitarian crisis. Atikokan Economic Development Corporation offers free business counselling, loans for start-up and expansion of small business, strategic planning on local projects and community economic development in rural areas. Congratulations to Resolute Forest Products and its project partners for the success of the Ukrainian Refugee Support Program!