Sault Ste. Marie sinks a million dollars into a “pipe dream”

Sault Ste. Marie’s councilors voted seamlessly tonight to contribute $ 500,000 to what one councilor joked is a “pipe dream in reality.”

The grant to Tenaris Algoma Tubes Inc. from the city’s economic development fund, unanimously approved by the councilors, will be accompanied by an additional $ 500,000 from the reserves of Sault Ste. Marie Economic Development Corp.

Tenaris wants to spend between $ 70 and $ 80 million to transform its Sault facility into Canada’s most comprehensive pipe manufacturing facility.

First reported by SooToday last month, the industrial transformation project includes the addition of a 30,000 square foot building with 75 new jobs expected to be created in the first year and another 50 full-time equivalent jobs. .

“This is, without a doubt in my mind, the best opportunity I have seen in my six years to come from the economic development fund,” said Mayor Provenzano.

“You are a proven company with a proven track record in our community,” said Mayor Dave McHattie, director of institutional relations at Tenaris Canada based in Calgary, who attended the City Council conference call.

“This is a very concrete project that will involve a significant investment in our community,” the mayor said.

“It will make your facility here a national leader and a world leader in manufacturing. This is what we want to do. We want to be a leader here in Sault Ste. Marie.”

“I think this is a fantastic project. I categorically support the request and appreciate that you have given us the opportunity to support your company in this project. I appreciate the trust your company is showing in Sault Ste. Marie by making this investment,” Provenzano said.

Ward 1 Coun. Paul Christian pointed out that Tenaris plans to purchase up to $ 200 million in hot rolled coils from Algoma Steel.

“Tenaris recognizes Sault Ste. Marie as a place to do business and a place to invest,” Christian said.

“We often hear:” We need more industry. Can’t you bring some industry? “This partnership is just that,” said Ward 5 Coun. Corey Gardi.

Ward 3’s Matthew Shoemaker added, “We always get questions, you know, we have to bring a car plant here. We have to bring it here. We have to bring it here. Well, we have two big industrial partners, as well as other auxiliary suppliers, industrial operations in town. But our anchors are Algoma and Tenaris “.

“Algoma has recently come out of tough times and is on solid ground. Tenaris has been through tough times, but has survived with the decision to invest in Sault Ste. Marie.”

“It is better than a pipe dream to get this structure or that manufacturing structure. I use pipe dream without puns. This is a pipe dream in reality. It is the dream that Tenaris offers us to add to our industrial base,” he said. said Shoemaker.

“Right now, things are really looking up,” said Ward 5 Coun. Matthew Scott.

Responding to a question about the timing of Ward 4’s Marchy Bruni, Tenaris’s McHattie said the company has so far not received confirmation of funding from other levels of government, but said planning for the project is already underway.

“We hope this leads to an eventual public announcement where we can share the final details. What I can say is that our goal is to complete this investment by 2021.”

“We are confident we will have it running with the first tube on the new line during the November-December period,” said McHattie.

“Our community really deserves good news and I think this information and support for this project is really new to our community,” added Mayor Provenzano.

In other news, a report by the city integrity commissioner that authorized the mayor of wrongdoing in the acquisition of the property of Studio 10 / Dime Nightclub was accepted as information, without even a twerk from board members.