THUNDER BAY -- The federal government wants to grow small business and diversify the North's economy Patty Hajdu said.
On Friday morning Fednor announced nearly $500,000 for the Northwestern Ontario Innovation Centre for information communication technology in the region. Hajdu, the Liberal MP for Thunder Bay-Superior North and Minister of Status of Women, said it's a wise investment,
"This actually builds capacity in small business and drives our economy," she said after announcing the funding at the Innovation Centre.
"In order to do that they need the tools, they need the training and they need to know what exists out there."
Centre manager Judy Sander said the three-year funding will help grow a budding IT sector but also attract people to either move to the region or move back to the region.
"To fuel a sector you need that talent to come in," she said.
Every business whether its media, mining or health leans heavily on IT to work.
"ICT supports just about every businesses that's out there," Sander said.
The money will also be used to help figure out a way to get a new generation interested in ICT Sander said.
