ONTARIO, CANADA - A new manufacturing plant in Thunder Bay will be home to 130 new jobs, and will help diversify the local wood market and bring new opportunities for economic development.

With assistance from the province, Global Sticks will switch from sourcing products from China to manufacturing products at a new, state-of-the art facility in Thunder Bay that created 50 construction jobs. The new plant will produce a variety of wooden sticks used for ice cream bars, corn dogs, tongue depressors for doctors and nurses, and paint paddles.

 Making infrastructure improvements in Northern Ontario communities is a key component of the plan laid out in Ontario's 2011 Budget - Turning the Corner, to create and support 10,000 new and existing jobs for Ontario families and to strengthen local economies.

QUICK FACTS

 Ontario is investing $1.32 million in the new Global Sticks plan through the NOHFC.

In its Growth Plan for Northern Ontario released March 4, the Province identifies the need to support diversity and growth in the region's traditional resource-based economy.

In 2010, Global Sticks planned to create over 8 billion ice cream sticks.

In 2009, Ontario provided Global Sticks with a $787,000 grant through the Forest Sector Prosperity Fund and another $2.9 million through the Forest Sector Loan Guarantee Program.