Kim Barraclough
Northern News Services

NNSL (July 12/99) - North Dakota, U.S.A.-based company Ice Diamonds has high hopes about coming North to set up a cutting and polishing factory in Hay River.

"We're waiting to hear from the government," said Jim Miller, president of Ice Diamonds.

Miller is confident that the proposal Ice Diamonds offered is a good one.

"I think we have more than adequately passed their sanctioning -- I think we've met all the criteria," said Miller.

"We're optimistic that (the government's decision) will be a favourable one," said Miller, adding that the company feels positive about going North.

"We are very committed to the North. We are actually very enthusiastic about Hay River," said Miller.

"The people have made us feel very, very welcome."

According to Miller, if the plant gets the go-ahead it will eventually provide 30 to 40 jobs for Northern workers.

Ice Diamonds made the decision to build in Hay River for a number of reasons, according to Miller.

One of the main reasons is the fact that many companies are already racing to set up in Yellowknife.

The population in the North is simply too spread out for all industry to be in one area, he said. Ice Diamonds knew that if several factories were built in Yellowknife, worker resources would quickly dry up.

Jack Rowe, mayor of Hay River, is in favour of Ice Diamonds setting up in the community.

"We're really hopeful that a decision can be made in the near future to allow Ice Diamonds to go forward," said Rowe.

"The sooner we can get this going the better -- Maybe by the 20th of the month we could see (Ice Diamonds) given the go ahead."