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New grocery store in the works for Smooth Rock Falls

Province partnering with Smooth Rock Falls to purchase and renovate a building on Highway 11 for use as the community's only grocery store
TimminsToday Staff
grocery shopping cart food

NEWS RELEASE
GOVERNMENT OF ONTARIO
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Ontario is helping Smooth Rock Falls open a new grocery store, after the community's only grocery store was destroyed by a fire in 2015. 

Through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC), the province partnered with the Town of Smooth Rock Falls to purchase and renovate a building on Highway 11 in the community for use as a grocery store.

This renovation project includes upgrades to electrical systems, roof and floor repairs, installation of heating and cooling units and improvements to building accessibility. In addition, the NOHFC is investing in equipment, shelving and office furniture for the new store.

Ensuring that northerners have access to basic community services is part of Ontario's plan to create fairness and opportunity during this period of rapid economic change.

The plan includes a higher minimum wage and better working conditions, free tuition for hundreds of thousands of students, easier access to affordable child care, and free prescription drugs for everyone under 25 through the biggest expansion of medicare in a generation.

Quotes

“Our government is committed to helping northerners create increased fairness and opportunities in their own communities. Today’s grand opening of the new Freshmart in Smooth Rock Falls will make life fairer for local residents who no longer will need to travel great distances to get basic necessities and will also help the community attract new economic development opportunities.” - Michael Gravelle, minister of Northern Development and Mines and Chair of the NOHFC

“We are very pleased that the province, through the NOHFC, is investing in this very important initiative for our community. The re-establishment of a grocery store in Smooth Rock Falls is a significant step in support of our 20-year strategic plan to attract businesses and residents to our town.” - Michel Arseneault, mayor, Town of Smooth Rock Falls

Quick Facts

  • Ontario is investing $1 million to renovate the Highway 11 building in Smooth Rock Falls and $185,500 to support the start-up of the new grocery store.
  • Since 2013, the province has invested more than $621 million through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) in 3,846 projects, leveraging more than $2.2 billion in direct economic activity and creating or sustaining over 15,300 jobs in Northern Ontario.
  • In the Timmins-James Bay region, the NOHFC has invested more than $34 million in 343 projects that have helped create or retain more than 970 jobs since 2013.

Additional Resources

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