FORT WILLIAM FIRST NATION -- Leaders from Thunder Bay and Fort William First Nation are putting their heads together in an effort to bring industry back to the area.
The neighbouring communities have beaten out dozens of competitors to be granted a five-year Community Economic Development Initative (CEDI) through the Feeration of Canadian Municipalities.
Early indications show both sides intend those efforts to be aimed at restoring the city's resource and manufacturing economies.
Fort William First Nation Chief Peter Collins said he saw the partnership as a similar step to the declaration of commitment the two communities signed in 2011.
Collins foresees partnerships blossoming in the energy sector as both the municipality and the First Nation explore options to attract industry by keeping operating costs low.
"This has to be one of the milestones for both of our communities to learn how to work with each other and learn about our economies and build a brighter future for our young people so hopefully there is a light at the end of the tunnel," he said.
Thunder Bay Coun. Linda Rydholm and the city brought a strong service skill set to the table but she agreed the focus of the partnership will be on re-industrializing a region whose manufacturing base has weakened over a generation.
"If we can have more good-paying jobs and a relatively larger middle class here, we will have a healthier community," Rydholm said.
"We used to have so many of those great, good-paying middle class jobs in the railways, the mills, other places, forestry, elevators. We need to see good-paying jobs back here for people."
Representatives of both communities spent Wednesday in brainstorming sessions at the First Nation's community centre discussing economic development processes and priorities.
Along with partnerships across Canada in tourism strategy and capacity building, the CEDI program claims a regional success story in the partnership between Sioux Lookout, Lac Seul First Nation and Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug First Nation.
Those parties are joining forces to construct a food distribution system based in the municipality to combat food insecurity in remote First Nations.
CEDI program manager Helen Patterson said she saw a lot of potential and a lot ot build on.
"They've looked at lands and how they might look toward attracting investors together and land development issues that are ongoing and how they might bring more regional prosperity through working together." .
