NNSL (May 28/97) - Cash-strapped Tuaro Dairy is looking for another injection of public funds, this time from the territorial government.

The Yellowknife dairy has applied to the new GNWT-sponsored Aurora Fund for cash.

Tuaro spokesman Ben McDonald said if the application is successful some of the funding will be used to erect a new barn.

"It's part of our longer range plan," he said, "for things like getting into other product lines, like cheeses, ice cream and other things."

Asked how much funding the dairy is applying for, McDonald initially said he would provide that answer after checking the figures.

An hour later, however, he had a change of heart. "We don't feel it's proper for us to give out information about an application that hasn't been approved," he said.

McDonald did say that the minimum loan from the Aurora Fund is $750,000. "It's a three-stage application that we put in, and I think the first draw-down we're looking for is somewhere around $350,000."

The $30-million Aurora Fund was organized by the territorial government as a source of capital for new and established northern businesses.

For an investment of $250,000 a share, potential immigrants gets a fast track to Canadian citizenship.