Dynamic Earth project unveiled.

• Author: Ross, Ian
• Position: Science North to build recreation area at Big Nickel Mine, Ontario, Canada - Brief Article - Statistical Data Included

Unable to secure tourism financing for their Dynamic Earth proposal, Science North officials have scaled back their vision of an attraction dedicated to Sudbury's mining heritage.

Funding for the project came in at about $8.6 million less than anticipated. The revised $12.8-million capital project was unveiled last month with the hope that money from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corp. (NOHFC) will be allocated soon to begin construction this spring.

The Dynamic Earth project was stalled after NOHFC officials decided Science North's original funding request two years ago for $12 million did not meet the funding criteria for their major destination attraction program. Project developers are now asking for a more pallatable $5 million investment from NOHFC.

Jim Marchbank, chief executive officer of Science North, expressed confidence from his informal discussions with heritage fund officials that this latest application would be well-received, with the decision-making process taking about two months. With immediate funding approval, construction can be started within weeks with the complex being delivered in two phases over a...