Rio Tinto contributes $10 million to support COVID-19 community initiatives across Canada and United States
May 04 2020 - 9:26AM
Business Wire
In order to support local community efforts to fight COVID-19
and its social and economic impacts, Rio Tinto is investing $10
million in a variety of grassroots projects across Canada and the
United States.
From delivering critical equipment for people working in
hospitals to providing practical support to communities and
families, we are contributing to efforts by our partners to help
fight the pandemic. In addition, Rio Tinto is supporting projects
that maintain and create regional economic development, which is
vital for the long-term prosperity of communities where it operates
across Canada and the United States.
Rio Tinto Chief Executive J-S Jacques said “Rio Tinto is proud
to play our part in supporting the outstanding and innovative
efforts of our people, partners and wider communities in responding
to the COVID-19 crisis.
“Our investments are targeted at practical solutions like
funding the food banks or counselling and support services that are
helping frontline response workers and the communities around our
operations. We will also play our part in supporting and
stimulating current and future economic activity through regional
development initiatives that are vital for local jobs and
businesses.
“Rio Tinto is committed to safely continuing to deliver products
to our customers, spending money with our suppliers and investing
in local initiatives, while supporting the efforts of governments
to protect people and stimulate economic recovery.”
Some of the early initiatives Rio Tinto is contributing to
include:
Canada
In Quebec, our aluminium operations in Saguenay – Lac-St-Jean
donated 25,000 masks and other equipment worth around C$100,000 to
the local health authority (CIUSSS); and provided C$75,000 to the
start-up Entreprise Prémont to help add a new production line to
address the shortage of surgical masks in Canada. Rio Tinto is
producing hand sanitizer in order to free up supplies for our
communities. Through the company’s employee donation matching
initiative, C$100,000 has been provided to four local food banks in
Havre-St-Pierre and Sorel-Tracy.
In British Columbia, the BC Works aluminium smelter made a
C$50,000 contribution to the Kitimat General Hospital Foundation
and provided reusable masks and safety glasses to the Royal
Canadian Mounted Police.
In the Northwest Territories, the Diavik diamond mine is
contributing C$60,000 to five Indigenous communities for community
identified relief initiatives such as food hampers and on the land
activities.
In Labrador, IOC has provided alternative housing support to a
local shelter for use if women and children affected by COVID-19
need a secure refuge.
United States
In Arizona, Rio Tinto’s Resolution Copper project partnered with
the United Food Bank to deliver 75,000 meals to the White Mountain
Apache Tribe on the Fort Apache Reservation and is also donating
50,000 cans of water to support tribes in collaboration with Ball
Corp and Can’d Aid.
In California, our borax business donated $10,000 to offer
learning support and food assistance to families living near our
Wilmington facility at the Port of Los Angeles. Rio Tinto’s Boron
operation is also producing hand sanitizer in order to free up
supplies for our communities.
In Utah, Rio Tinto’s Kennecott copper operation is partnering
with the Natural History Museum to run a digital education hub
pilot to improve access to technology for students. Kennecott is
also producing hand sanitizer in order to free up supplies for our
communities.
Further investments will be announced over the next six
months.
Notes to editors
Rio Tinto’s support for community partners and COVID-19
initiatives in Canada and the United States draws on the $25
million fund we have announced globally, as well as refocusing
support from our existing Rio Tinto Aluminium Canada Fund, Regional
Economic Development Fund and site sponsorship and donation
programs towards projects that address the current crisis.
Rio Tinto provides work for more than 19,000 people in Canada
and the United States, producing aluminium, boron, copper,
diamonds, iron ore and titanium. We operate in Quebec, Labrador
Newfoundland, British Columbia and the Northwest Territories in
Canada, and Utah, California, Arizona and Illinois in the United
States. Our office in Montreal is a global hub for Rio Tinto that
supports our operations around the world and our commercial centre
in Chicago connects us with customers in the key market of the
United States.
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