FedNor

The Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario (or FedNor) is a program of Industry Canada whose mission is to address the economic development, diversification and job creation in Northern Ontario. FedNor especially aids women, Franco-ontarians, youth, and Aboriginal peoples in Ontario. While a lot of progress has been made in achieving FedNor's objectives, communities in Northern and rural Ontario continue to face the ongoing structural challenges that necessitate a stable, long-term regional development effort.

FedNor’s role is one of facilitator and catalyst, to bring the private and public sector partners together in order to create an environment where communities can thrive, businesses can grow and people can prosper. Since the beginning of FedNor in 1987, the role in business and economic development throughout the North has grown substantially. As a result, the programs and services that FedNor offers to the communities of Northern Ontario have evolved and improved.

FedNor has offices in Sudbury, Sault Ste. Marie and Thunder Bay, which are the three main offices. At the Sudbury office is where the director general resides along with the main branches of communications, corporate services and policy and planning. The Sault Ste. Marie office of FedNor houses the International Business Centre, which focuses on trade and investment.