(Acadia Broadcasting File Photo)

Twelve-point-seven million dollars is being directed to seven communities in the area through the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund as part of an overall 400 million dollar investment by the province for next year.

Thunder Bay will see the lion’s share with $10 million exactly.

Atikokan will get $600, 887, followed up by Oliver Paipoonge at $488, 957.

The money is being applied to various improvements to roads, bridges, water and wastewater projects.

“I am pleased to see these communities within my riding get the help that they need from our government,” said Thunder Bay-Atikokan MPP Kevin Holland. “OCIF provides funding to eligible communities every year to help them address critical infrastructure needs.”

Other communities included in the funding are Conmee $100,000, Gillies $100,000, O’Connor $100,000, and Neebing $329,715 .

In December 2021, the Ontario government announced an additional $1 billion for critical infrastructure projects that support economic growth and job creation in small, rural, and northern communities, bringing the government’s total investment to nearly $2 billion dollars over five years.