The northern Ontario community of Elliot Lake will receive a $2.5 million financial boost from government to help it rebuild after the city's mall partially collapsed last June, killing two women.

A handful of people came out to hear FedNor Minister Tony Clement announce two contributions of federal funding on Tuesday.

The first was for close to $500,000 from the community infrastructure improvement fund to upgrade the heat and ventilation system in Elliot Lake’s community centre.

Without the funding, Mayor Rick Hamilton said the project would have taken a lot longer to complete.

The federal government will also chip in $1 million to finish preparing the land for the new mall — the total cost of which is more than $3 million.

The province has also announced it will give the city $1 million for site preparations through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation.

The new mall is expected to be complete by November, something Hamilton said will help move the community move forward from a dark period in the city’s history.

The old mall is currently being demolished.