News

$1 Million Investment to Establish Ontario’s First Production Facility for Concrete Railway Ties

Investment will increase made-in-Ontario manufacturing capacity and create good-paying jobs.

NORTH BAY – Vic Fedeli, MPP for Nipissing, announced that the Ontario government is investing $1 million through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) to help RailOne Rainbow Canada Corp. establish a production facility for concrete railroad ties in North Bay to meet market demand. As part of its plan to protect Ontario, the province is making strategic investments to grow manufacturing capacity in northern Ontario, create good-paying jobs, and support the production of in-demand products for Canadian and global markets.

“Our government is taking action to build and grow the manufacturing sector in North Bay,” said MPP Vic Fedeli. “Today’s $1 million investment in RailOne Rainbow Canada Corporation is driving economic growth in the region. This funding has helped establish Ontario’s first facility to manufacture concrete ties for transit projects and reduced transportation costs by producing them in Northern Ontario rather than importing them from overseas.”

“RAILONE is bringing 70 years of concrete technology for railway tracks from Germany to Canada,” said Saurav Mittal, CEO, PMC RailOne Canada Corp. “We’re developing a robust Canadian Railway Supply Chain for Passenger Transit, High Speed Rail and Heavy Haul Logistics.”

“We are excited to make North Bay home for our new company, RailOne Rainbow Canada Corp., where our two businesses have joined forces to set up a state-of-the-art production facility,” said Boris Naneff, Managing Director, RailOne Rainbow Canada Corp. “We appreciate NOHFC’s support for phase one of our operation, which will almost double our local workforce. Concrete ties are a clean, creosote-free, low-maintenance, environmentally friendly alternative. With great highway and rail access, we are ideally situated to serve Canada’s concrete rail tie needs from coast to coast!”

RailOne, a joint venture created to manufacture concrete railroad ties in Canada, is using NOHFC funding to refurbish an existing building, purchase manufacturing equipment, and conduct marketing activities. This initiative will establish a new manufacturing facility in northern Ontario, creating approximately 19 full-time jobs and enabling the company to competitively offer a durable, long-lasting, and environmentally friendly product for heavy-haul, high-speed, and urban transit projects.

The Ontario government is prioritizing investments through the NOHFC that protect northern industries and jobs, mitigate the impacts of U.S. tariffs and trade disruptions, and secure new opportunities for the long-term prosperity of Northern Ontario. The renewed focus is enhancing competitiveness and ensuring the North remains a leader in Ontario’s economy. This new direction adds to the province’s increased investment, bringing the NOHFC’s annual budget to $110 million. Together, these initiatives will benefit communities of all sizes, including rural and urban, and Indigenous communities.

Quick Facts

• Through its funding programs, the NOHFC offers support to public and private sector economic development projects across northern Ontario.
• In September, Ontario announced more than $3.4 million in NOHFC support for manufacturing projects across northern Ontario.
• Since June 2018, the NOHFC has approved more than $1.1 billion for 9,000-plus projects in northern Ontario, leveraging more than $3.4 billion in investment, creating over 11,580 new jobs and sustaining over 2,345 jobs.

Additional Resources

The NOHFC, Northern Development Offices and Ontario Small Business Advisory Centres support northern communities, businesses and other stakeholders in identifying economic development opportunities and government funding programs.