Making the right connections: Thunder Bay innovation centre offers support for small business.

• Author: Ross, Ian
• Position: FORESTRY

Value-added forestry is only a small portion of Rick Prior's client-membership base, but it's a potentially budding one.

The director of development for the Northwestern Ontario Innovation Centre in Thunder Bay said small forestry companies are a part of a broad spectrum of companies that the entrepreneur development organization provides business support for.

Prior does not act as a forestry consultant though he does have an extensive industry background he has worked in forestry operations and equipment sales, including 18 years at Ontrac Equipment Services, and nine years as vice-president of the forestry equipment manufacturer.

The centre delivers all kinds of support services with connections to angel investor networks, lending institutions and government funders. It administers the Advance Program, which can deliver up to $5,000 early-stage assistance funding, and is supported by the Industrial Research Assistance Program.

John Hockenhull, owner of Precision Wood Design, delivers all kinds of praise for the centre and Prior is helping him potentially expand his woodworking business.

The local maker of base boards and flooring products is seeking access to a small portion of local Crown wood being put up for bid by the Ontario government this year.

Being able to source fibre from the previously off-limits Lakehead Crown forest management unit is a huge part of his expansion plans to create more value-added jobs at his shop in Murillo, just west of Thunder Bay.

"The innovation centre really helps with growing forestry companies."

Hockenhull said Prior has been "super good" at assisting them in handling the paperwork for the province's forest tenure renewal process application.

"Me, being a small company, I don't have a lot of time to do it. The centre is there to help sift through the paperwork. They're definitely looking to grow the industry in Thunder Bay.

"For any type of small business they're an excellent resource."

Often Prior passes on industry-related news and opportunities to members like Hockenhull.

"We have supported him with small grant programs," said Prior. "A lot of these companies need to contract out to get technical expertise and he was looking for treatments for pre-finishing for some of the products."

In advance of the fall launch of the Ontario government's current wood supply competition, Hockenhull was looking for alternative local sources. Prior provided him with a contact list of companies to call on for wood...