Economic relief coming for Churchill, feds say

The northern town ofChurchill, which has been rattled by bad news with layoffs and the threat of their biggest employer shutting down, is about to get some good news.

The federal government is holding a news conference on Friday to announcefunding to support economic development.

A spokesperson forNavdeepBains, minister of innovation, notedhowever,the funds willnot be used to invest in the Port of Churchill.

• Port of Churchill layoffs 'came out of nowhere,' says town's mayor
• Port of Churchill layoffs could devastate northern Manitoba economy, ministers say

Bains, who is also the minister responsible for Western Economic Diversification Canada, will be in the northern Manitoba town to reveal detailsFriday at12:30 p.m. at Churchill's town centre complex.

Dozens of workers were laid off in July from the Port of Churchill, the town's largest employer.

OmniTraxRail, theDenver-based companythat has owned and operatedthe port as well as theHudson Bay rail linesince 1997, says aslump in grain shipments has put a strain on the operation.