Thunder Bay included in rural development program

Thunder Bay has been made eligible for the provincial Rural Ontario Development Program after local economic groups and the city successfully lobbied to expand the program's rural definition, allowing businesses, non-profits and the municipality to apply for several funding streams.

Thunder Bay is now eligible to apply to the Rural Ontario Development Program after the Thunder Bay Economic Development Commission, the City of Thunder Bay, and the Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce asked the province to change how it defines "rural." The city had previously been ineligible because of its urban designation, despite facing low population density across a large area and other service and connectivity challenges. The province added "a census subdivision located in northern Ontario" to its rural definition, which the local groups say made Thunder Bay eligible. Local officials described the move as a step toward more equitable access to provincial economic development supports. Key facts: - Thunder Bay is now included in the Rural Ontario Development Program and may apply for provincial funding under that program. - Eligible applicants include small businesses with up to 20 employees, non-profit and Indigenous organizations, local services boards, and the municipality. - The province added "a census subdivision located in northern Ontario" to its rural definition, which changed Thunder Bay's eligibility. - The program has three main funding streams: economic diversification and capacity building (50% cost-share to $200,000, events up to $10,000), workforce attraction and retention (up to $150,000), and community infrastructure enhancements (35% cost-share, large projects $25,000–$250,000, small projects up to $25,000). - A separate business development stream for small businesses offers up to 35% cost-share to a maximum of $10,000. Summary: The change makes Thunder Bay eligible for several provincial funding streams intended to support local economic projects, workforce initiatives and community asset updates. Undetermined at this time.