Global Sticks Inc. opening in Thunder Bay

New Canadian company Global Sticks Inc. will build a state-of-the-art factory in Thunder Bay, Ontario to manufacture Ontario wood and create sticks used for ice cream bars, popsicles, corn dogs, paint paddles and tongue depressors.

Global Sticks is a new Canadian company that was formed through the merger of two companies with American, Danish and British Columbia investors. These companies had previously been sourcing sticks from China.

The Global Sticks factory will produce up to 2.9 billion food-grade wood sticks each year from northern white birch, a species that is underutilized by the forest industry.

75 jobs will be created. This will also create additional economic spin-off benefits including 15-20 construction jobs. Construction is scheduled to begin in October 2009, and be completed by January 2010.

This initiative is being supported by over $1 million in funding and over $3.8 million in loans and loan guarantees through the Ontario government's Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation, the Forest Sector Prosperity Fund and the forest sector loan guarantee program.

Source: Ontario Government