THUNDER BAY — The Regional Food Distribution Association is welcoming $2 million in provincial funding to support the expansion and renovation of its facility in the city.
The funding is going to offset the total cost of the project which is $6.9 million.
“The $2 million we announced today for the RFDA from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund is to help them with the construction plans that we're seeing are well underway,” said Kevin Holland MPP for Thunder Bay—Atikokan.
“It’s been a long time in the planning. Volker (Kromm) and my crew here at the RFDA have long had this vision to create this space that we're helping to fund today, to really enhance their operations to provide them a greater ability to provide not just Thunder Bay but across the region.
“Overall, it's going to be a great enhancement to the facility here and the work that they're doing,” he said.
Holland said there is a need for food security right across the region.
“For our government to be able to support them in that project and the great work they're doing is really important to us. We all hope (for) a day where we don't need to have food banks and food distribution, but we're not there.”
Volker Kromm, executive director at the RFDA, said he has known the building needed an expansion since 2011.
“We needed more capacity and also, it became very clear that education about around food literacy was super important not only here in Thunder Bay but right across the region.
“With all the partners we thought, what do we build,” he said.
An important space is in the works that will serve as a space for education, workshops, streaming to remote communities and more.
“This is a culmination of probably six years of my time trying to combine a lot of visions, a lot of strategising, getting the board and the volunteers and staff together on about what we need looking at the future,” he said.
In January, the RFDA launched a $1.5 million fundraising campaign. The target is now up to $2 million, said Kromm, due to concerns over tariff impacts.
“I always play on the side of caution, because we're trying to get as much of the equipment and all the construction done prior to the upcoming construction season, but now we're facing that uncertain future of what's happening south of the border," he said.
"Most of our supplies and materials come from Canada, but there's going to be some things that must be sourced from south of the border, and there are tariffs.
“I'm just saying if we have further delays, if we have extra costs, and we want to make sure that we're up to the $2 million to get us over the over the crest of the hill."
George Pirie, Minister of Northern Economic Development and Growth, said the community coming together and helping people in need is what speaks the loudest.
“These announcements are not only significant in the city of Thunder Bay, . . . but all across Ontario.
“These types of investments are very important, and it's a pleasure for me as a mentor that's responsible for the Heritage Fund that is able to fund these types of projects, it's our mandate. It's part of the mandate of the government to help all communities and all people in their communities.”