After a two year search, The Regional Food Distribution Association has found a new home.
City council voted unanimously Monday night, after spending over an hour in a closed session, to release $330,000 to the RFDA so it can buy the former Diamond Bingo Hall on Syndicate Avenue. RFDA president Larry Brigham said he’s excited about the conditional offer. He said the 15,000 square foot former grocery store is just what the RFDA was looking for.
"This (building) is the cat’s meow as far as I’m concerned. This is the best one and it’s the one just for us," Brigham said.
Brigham said the building will be completely renovated on the outside and a loading dock will be installed. The inside will have renovated washrooms, new insulation and a commercial kitchen. Brigham said while there’s no definite timeline on when the RFDA will move in, he hopes it will be as quickly as possible.
"We’ll be taking possession later this month and we’re hoping to move in just as quickly as we can," said Brigham "We’re hoping to be in there in a few months."
Council still needs to ratify their decision at a city council meeting next Monday.
In another unanimous decision, council approved $1.5 million for the Thunder Bay Regional Research Institute Monday. The money will be used for the TBRRI’s cyclotron and radiopharmacy project starting next year. City manager Tim Commissio said the expected $26.6 million project will benefit the community by creating jobs and attracting business to the area. From research scientists to construction workers, Commisso told questioning councillors that the new facility would create direct and indirect jobs.
"This is about building an economy where it’s tied into jobs at all levels," Commisso said. "It puts Thunder Bay in a position to be one of the few communities…considered a centre of excellence in medical research."
The money would bring the total amount given to the TBRRI by the city to $6.5 million since 2006.
