News Environment & Sustainability Paper Pulp
Ontario invests $83K to redevelop former Resolute pulp mill site

The Ontario government is investing $83,000 in two community development projects on the site of the former Resolute Forest Products pulp and paper mill in Fort Frances.

Resolute sold the mothballed mill, which had been idle since 2014, to a subsidiary of brownfield redeveloper Riversedge Developments in July 2019.

The Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation is funding $65,000 for the Town of Fort Frances to create redevelopment plans for two properties, and $18,000 for the Rainy River Future Development Corporation to study the feasibility of developing a modular house manufacturing facility in the region.

“This support will be used to conduct a land use and economic feasibility study for the redevelopment of the Shevlin wood yard and the former nursing station, creating a gateway to the Rainy Lake Market Square,” says Fort Frances Mayor June Caul.

Initially, Caul and the town’s council had advocated for a buyer that would restart the mill and bring jobs back to the region.

However, sale documents prohibited any transfer to a competitor. Resolute holds the forest licence the Crossroute Forest, which is the area’s fibre supply.