Nipissing First Nation Bineshii Business Park grows regional economy
By Kelly Anne Smith
NIPISSING FIRST NATION— The entire region benefits with the expansion of a commercial park on Nipissing First Nation says Nipissing First Nation Chief Scott McLeod.
FedNor is funding $1 million towards design and the building of infrastructure for 35 commercial and light industrial lots in the Bineshii Business Park. Chief McLeod, also the Anishinabek Nation Lake Huron Regional Chief, says funding in the Bineshii Business Park is a win for the district.
The area being developed is North of Highway 17 between Eagle’s Nest and Young Forestry, about a kilometre wide and four lots deep.
New roads will be constructed and three-phase power is to be installed with hydro poles. The leased lots on average will be two acres.
Nipissing First Nation Economic Development Manager Michael Harney calls the business park a cornerstone.
“We have one road in there now that is running parallel to [Highway 17] that is servicing the cannabis stores and the small business centre. There will be another road built parallel to that just north with two connecting south roads.”
Harney says both First Nation and non-First Nations businesses can set up in the park.
Brian Bellefeuille of Supplies for the Soul says the commercial park development will attract more traffic bringing in more commerce.
“As our business park grows more and more, the public gains knowledge of it. It will benefit everybody involved. Entrepreneurs will have better ideas, especially our band members, to come in and they’ll be more encouraged to get things going.”
Chief McLeod adds pre-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic business had been growing on Nipissing First Nation.
“We are not too sure what kind of impact that is going to have on it. We are forging ahead. Once things settle down, in regards to COVID, I’m sure the economy is going to be even hungrier than before. We are staying the course and going to be planning for long-term which is more development in our commercial park,” he explains. “The benefits of this commercial park go beyond the boundaries of our First Nation. This is regional good news when we start to develop because when it comes to the economy, there is no reserve boundary… It potentially means job creation and economic growth throughout the region, not just in Nipissing. This is not just a good news story for Nipissing First Nation but for the entire Nipissing region.”