French River nabs $80-million industrial investment by Sudbury company

Sudbury-based industrial construction firm Anmar Mechanical is building two new facilities in French River and will create around 150 jobs.

A big coup for the Municipality of French River as the mayor announced that Sudbury-based Anmar Mechanical would be constructing two new facilities and creating more than 100 new jobs in the community.

Municipal officials were all smiles Wednesday night at French River Mayor Gisèle Pageau’s annual address as she broke the news that a new industrial centre will be developed near Station Road in Alban.

“A one-storey approximately 50,000-square-foot warehouse and a one-storey approximately 130,000-square-foot dry industry building,” she told the crowd.

“This development is an exciting opportunity for French River as it’s expected to create over 150 new jobs and spur construction of dozens of new homes.”

Pageau introduced Sudbury businessman and Anmar CEO Giulio Grossi and gave him the opportunity to speak to council.

“This was not the first choice of site, but it became to be our first choice of site after investigating other avenues,” he said.

Later, in an interview with CTVNewsNorthernOntario.ca, Grossi explained the building will be used for trusses for bridges or large industrial buildings.

“I think that it’s a great opportunity for French River to have a plan that would be employing several hundred people and we like northern Ontario, so here we are,” he smiled.

Grossi said the proximity to rail service appealed to them and it would serve as a positive impact to their business.

“We might get some support, we might not, but that’s what the budget for now is,” he said.

“Afterwards, we’re going to create housing for people who come in and get employed in the place.”

Shovels have already gone into the ground and Anmar is just waiting for final approval of the zoning.

Grossi is hopeful the two buildings could be ready by September.

“It feels great, bringing in this multi-million dollar project is out of sight. I have no words to express how grateful we are to Anmar for choosing us to build his manufacturing,” said Pageau.

The two-term mayor said this is going to create quite a lot of economic spinoff to the community.

“He’s already been in touch with contractors. There are housing projects underway, so we can currently house these people that would be coming to our community,” she said.

“But the best part is, by having this manufacturing, it’ll also create off-shoots of his project. Perhaps we’ll get a Dollar Store, some competition for a grocery store. There will be new businesses investing in our community and that means a lot.”