New developments spell prosperity for Thunder Bay. (Thunder Bay).

A construction boom is underway in Thunder Bay.

"The value of construction in Thunder Bay last year is certainly well ahead of the norm, due primarily to the Regional Hospital construction," but also owing to a number of other large projects, says Jim Buie, manager of plans examination and permits for the city.

Total project costs for the hospital are $225 million. The 375-bed facility is slated for completion this fail.

Also under construction is Lakehead University's $44-million Advanced Technology and Academic Centre (ATAC), expected to be open for classes this fall.

Tom Jones Corporation is the general contractor for ATAC, as well as for Confederation College's Aviation Centre of Excellence, a $10-million facility that will house the college's three-aviation programs. They are also the contractor for Bowater. Canadian Forest Products Inc.'s multi-million dollar sawmill, which is nearing completion.

The City of Thunder Bay is adding secondary treatment facilities to its water pollution control plant at a cost of $48 million, says Doug Scott, manager of engineering for the city. A $56-million water supply system upgrade is ongoing as well.

Scott also mentions the Island Drive Bridge over the Kaministiquia River, which opened in October 2002 at a cost about $13 million to build.

Other projects are also underway.

"We're proceeding with the design of two new nursing homes to replace existing facilities. Total construction costs are estimated. around $40 million."

Thunder Bay Mayor Ken Boshcoff cites the health sector as a growth area for his city, due to the regional hospital and medical school. He also notes mining as an economic strength.

"We have mining and our location acts as a base of operations for several of the existing mining companies."

Mary Long-Irwin, Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce president, sees aviation as a growth sector for the city.

She also cites biotechnology as a growth area.

"We see that whole sector growing as it needs more supplies and service," Long-Irwin says. "These are good, high-paying well-educated jobs that we'll be having more of in Thunder Bay."

"We have one of the top three paleo-labs in the world" in the Lakehead University Paleo-DNA Laboratory.

The Thunder Bay DNA lab discovered the identity of the Unknown Child in 2002, the only child's body recovered after the Titanic sank in 1912, Boshcoff points out.

"We expect to get more attention and credit for that type of work. We are actively working in the technology and biotechnology fields."

Genesis Genomics' position in Thunder Bay strengthens the biotechnology sector in the city, Long-Irwin says.

The Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce is working on an initiative to establish emergency and protective services training in the North.

Long-Irwin anticipates the project will provide opportunities and revenue streams for many businesses, including airports, hotels, and restaurants.

"It would keep millions of dollars in the local economy.".

Applications have been made to FedNor and the Ontario Heritage Fund.

"We're hoping this year at least the fire tower and long-distance gun range (can be completed)."

The chamber has also been developing partnerships with Thunder Bay's First Nations community, Long-Irwin says, and has hosted a "meet and greet" for First Nations chiefs and elders to discuss how the chamber can better serve them.

The chamber has launched new retail decals saying "Status cards welcomed here," in English, Cree and Ojibwa.

She describes the decal program as "subtle, but very positive."

Another new initiative is the idea of a Grow Bonds program, Long-Irwin says.

"One of our barriers is venture capital, and we need to make sure that we have that here for businesses that want to start up or expand."

Grow Bonds, she explains. "in a nutshell, allows you as a business to invest in Northern Ontario."

The program has been very successful in Northern Manitoba.

"That's the model we're looking at."

The chamber is now waiting to hear from the Ministry of Finance for approval, which would indicate the ministry is willing to write the regulation and the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines could go ahead and start running the program.

"They have been very receptive. We expect a positive response."

Long-Irwin speculates that future investment opportunities in Thunder Bay-may be found in the bio-medical field, education and training and tourism. She also anticipates investment potential in the forestry, mining, and transportation sectors.

The city is trying to diversify its economy, and as a result growth engines will depend on several components, says Boshcoff.

"We are even engaging in some pan-northern co-operation," Boshcoff says. "There's a Sudbury biotech firm Neureka - that's paired up with Genesis Genomics to do cancer research. A cure for cancer has to be discovered somewhere; why not Thunder Bay?"

Although Boshcoff says he cannot speculate on the exact number of jobs these various projects will create, he says he is confident they will provide more local job opportunities.

"When I started in 1997, unemployment was close to 12 per cent, and now we are seeing 5.6 per cent."

Both Boshcoff and Long-Irwin agree that good local jobs are an important tool to stem out-migration. The mayor also cites the loss of provincial government jobs as a huge problem, not just for Thunder Bay, but for all of Northern Ontario.

"Job loses due to provincial government downsizing dwarfs all other problems, hand-in-hand with out-migration," Boshcoff says.

Another mammoth challenge is transportation, Long-Irwin points out. Area highways, particularly from Nipigon to Thunder Bay, suffer closures due to accidents, sometimes for more than 24 hours.

"It makes, it very hard to compete when the highway is closed so often."

Thunder Bay and other northern communities have been trying to attract value-added manufacturing, "but when the cost of shipping is prohibitive they won't come here," Long-Irwin says.

"We need to get the provincial and federal governments together on this - we've been lobbying hard. When you consider how many jobs are dependent on or related to transportation, it's huge."