2 Thunder Bay companies have received a total of $513,701 through a loan from FedNor leading to business expansion and job creation.

$368,201 of the total is assisting Venshore Mechanical with shop expansion and equipment upgrades including the purchase of a metalworking brake and shear, and a plasma table.

This project will create new capabilities in the region to produce ASME-certified, precision-fabricated tanks, pressure vessels, and plates.

“We (now) have a new grooving tool that’s gonna allow us to do line pipe, and grove our own pipe without having to send it outside of the area,” explained President of Venshore Mechanical, John Jurcik. “This is not something that we have had in Northwestern Ontario before, so another part of the puzzle is that we can do it all in-house.”

BioNorth Solutions is receiving $145,500 to expand and upgrade their facility and to acquire laboratory equipment, including a large-scale centrifuge and bioreactors.

This initiative will help develop environmental solutions including bio-products to encourage plant growth globally and will foster the bio-remediation of contaminated properties found in Northern Ontario, in Canada, and internationally.

“We now have the ability to expand our capacity by 20 times,” said BioNorth Solutions Co-Founder and President Amber Kivisto “This makes a huge difference for us, it also improves our quality control and will allow us to hire more people.”

The Member of Parliament for Thunder Bay—Rainy River Marcus Powlowski, announced the loan on behalf of Patty Hajdu, minister of Indigenous Services and minister responsible for FedNor, and member of parliament for Thunder Bay—Superior North.

The loan is expected to create 17 jobs, with 6 additional jobs being expanded to full-time status and another 29 jobs being maintained.

Member of Parliament for Thunder Bay—Rainy River Marcus Powlowski, President of Venshore Mechanical, John Jurcik, BioNorth Solutions Co-Founder and President Amber Kivisto, and Venshore Mechanical staff members – CJ Goater