Location key to tourism success in community.

The community of Little Current, Northeastern Manitoulin and the Islands (NEMI) is a place rich in culture and a highly desired tourist destination, says Kevin Rose, community development co-ordinator for NEMI.

"(Our community) is strategically located directly on the North Channel which has been noted as the second best-sailed waters in the world," Rose says. "Our strategic location also provides our community with a very rich pool of knowledge, arts and cultural influences from First Nations communities."

Located on the world's largest island on a freshwater body, Manitoulin Island, and just over 50 kilometres from Espanola, NEMI has a strong, but seasonal-based, economy of tourism and ecotourism as their primary economic attribute. This includes resorts, scenic lookouts, hiking tails and numerous recreational activities and historical sites.

The North Channel also adds to NEMI's economic base, as it attracts a large variety of people to the community, Rose says.

"Our waterway accessibility allows for large numbers of transient boaters of all types to dock at our port on the North Channel, including several private and public marinas. (There is also) the potential dockage capacity to accommodate the cruise liner industry."

With First Nations influence and a number of tourism-specific organizations, he says NEMI is "a most desired tourist destination, attracting visitors from around the world."

There is also a strong agriculture sector in the community, which deals in the agri-food sector to provide various products that are distributed throughout the southern parts of Ontario. There is also a large contingent of agriculture business alliances, and there are several research and development programs through the agriculture business alliances which may provide additional future investment and business opportunities.

"Tourism, ecotourism and agriculture are dominant industries here, including privately owned business and entrepreneurships," Rose says. "The area has a readily available, and skilled workforce, and offers an exceptional quality of life. Our diverse nature and flexible workforce accommodate and invite a wide range of diversified business and investment opportunities,"

To stimulate economic activity NEMI has a new community development corporation. Initiatives which are in the works to attract economic development include work on a waterfront revitalization project, development of a business advisory assistance centre for information, service and referrals, the development of various collaborative partnerships to pool resources, knowledge and expertise with interested bodies, and numerous research activities.

Among NEMI's 164 businesses in the community, the top employers are Centennial Manor, Cold Water Fisheries, the service industry (government), hospital/ambulance services, the school board and Manitoulin Transport Delivery Depot.