'We will do more with less,' says Vair

Having received less funding than expected for a job-creation initiative, the Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre will have to make do with less, says the executive director.

Today the government of Ontario, through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation, announced funding of $1.2-million over the next three years toward the Innovation Centre’s major lottery and gaming drive aimed at attracting up to 200 new jobs.

In October, Vair and Dodds stood before city council and asked for $750,000 over three years in an effort to collect up to $4-million in funds for the project.

Today, Vair said the Innovation Centre has adjusted their budget.

“Our budget is now about $2.2-million for the total project. It is a little bit less and we are doing more with less,” said Vair.

Seven new positions will be created at the Innovation Centre, and the hope is to create 200 additional jobs in the lottery and gaming industry as OLG continues its modernization process.

The hope is to attract new business to the Sault.

“A lot of people are seeing this as just an OLG thing. It’s actually a lot bigger, what we are trying to do here. There are not many jurisdictions doing what we are doing here in Sault Ste. Marie,”  said Vair after today’s announcement.

A partnership with Sault College and Algoma University will participate in an effort to ensure there is a trained workforce in place. 

Money allocated for marketing, promotion and research in the project’s budget was scaled back as result of the lower-than-expected funding, said Vair.

“Across the board we looked at all those things, ratcheted them down but we still think we have the resources to execute on the project,” said Vair.

Below is a Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre news release issued after today's event:

MPP David Orazietti, announced funding from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corp. (NOHFC) to support Sault Ste. Marie’s Lottery and Gaming Pursuit. The NOHFC's $1.2 million will be distributed over three years in conjunction with contributions from the city and other funding partners to implements a singular coordinated effort towards growing and diversifying the Lottery and Gaming sector.

The investment launches a dedicated team to focus on talent management solutions and innovative business outreach and attraction efforts.

The team will lead marketing and communications, partnership efforts with post secondary institutions, and programs for employee retention and growth to an industry that is undergoing massive change locally and globally.

This experienced senior management team will be charged with a mandate to manage the initiatives, including the pursuit of new partnerships and business opportunities.

Talent programs will contribute to creating exciting employment opportunities for the exceptional lottery and gaming talent in Sault Ste. Marie and beyond.

The project is poised to capitalize on opportunities arising from OLG’s modernization and from the many global opportunities in Lottery and Gaming services and product innovations 

The City of Sault Ste. Marie embraced the pursuit to develop and diversify its lottery and gaming economy which reflects on the cricital significance of this sector to the community and its commitment to growing its knowledge economy. 

Currently, Lottery and Gaming is one of Sault Ste. Marie’s unique and significant economic pillars. 

“The lottery and gaming sector is an important economic driver for Sault Ste. Marie. This funding will enable the community to take a proactive approach to retaining and growing jobs within this globally significant sector,” said Tom Vair, executive director, SSMIC.

“We greatly appreciate NOHFC and the Province of Ontario for supporting this strategic initiative and look forward to collaborating with industry partners to pursue diversification and advance the development of a lottery and gaming cluster in our city.”
 
The Lottery & Gaming Pursuit team’s goal will be to bring new vibrancy to the sector and it will result in a platform for a refuelled and sustainable knowledge based economy.