Backgrounder: Government of Canada supports 11 Gaspésie organizations to grow and diversify regional economy
Backgrounder
Bonaventure, Quebec, January 10, 2025 – Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED)
The following information is in addition to the news release issued on January 10, 2025, on CED’s financial assistance, the recipient businesses and organizations, and their respective projects.
Summary
- 11 projects supported by CED
- $10,151,224 in CED financial contributions, provided under the Regional Economic Growth through Innovation (REGI) program, the Quebec Economic Development Program (QEDP) and the Tourism Growth Program (TGP)
- $86,488,711 in total investments generated
Details
| Recipient | Regional County Municipality | Project objective | Main activities funded by CED | CED contribution | Total project cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Bonaventure |
The aim of the project is to improve and enhance the tourism experience on offer at the Bioparc de la Gaspésie by implementing the first phase of its 2022-2026 Strategic Plan. This large-scale project includes redesigning four ecosystems, creating new animal habitats, expanding and renovating the animal care building, constructing an exhibit pavilion, refitting public spaces, expanding sanitation areas, and developing digital and scientific content and a marketing strategy. |
CED’s support, provided under the QEDP, will focus mainly on the redesign of the ecosystems and development of new animal habitats, the expansion and renovation of the animal care building, and certain professional fees associated with the project. |
$2,764,654 (non-repayable) |
$7,880,556 |
|
|
Le Rocher-Percé |
The aim of Merinov’s project is to strengthen its capacity for innovation and technology transfer by establishing the Hub d’innovation – Merinov in Grande-Rivière to better guide Quebec’s fishing, aquaculture and bioresource industry. The new innovation spaces being built will offer five technology platforms connected, among other things, to sustainable fishing equipment, microalgae, the recovery of algae and co-products, a fish farming room with modern effluent processing technology, and ecophysiology and biology laboratories. |
CED’s support, provided under the REGI program, will focus specifically on the acquisition and installation of equipment needed to establish a saltwater and freshwater treatment system: heat pumps, filter feeders, generators, piping, electrical coolers and cabling. |
$2,000,000 (non-repayable) |
$31,200,000 |
|
|
La Haute-Gaspésie |
The aim of the project is to increase the production capacity of the AEM Group, a start-up specializing in the manufacture of high-purity alumina. This project will enable the business to acquire and install specialized equipment, expand a building to add calcination cleanrooms, and increase its working capital. |
CED’s support, provided under the REGI program, will focus specifically on the acquisition and installation of equipment, including an electric tunnel oven. |
$2,000,000 (repayable) |
$27,735,000 |
|
|
La Haute-Gaspésie |
The aim of the project is to increase the production capacity and improve the productivity of Cusimer, a seafood processing business. By the end of this project, Cusimer will have been able to expand its plant and add lobster tanks, a lobster sorter, a conveyor, and cooling and air conditioning systems. |
CED’s support, provided under the REGI program, will focus specifically on the expansion of the plant, the addition of lobster tanks, and the acquisition of a sorter and conveyor. |
$1,900,000 (repayable) |
$7,528,805 |
|
|
Le Rocher-Percé |
The aim of the project by Les Bateliers de Percé is to enhance the cruises it offers by modernizing and expanding its boat to increase passenger capacity. |
CED’s support, provided under the QEDP, will focus on overall project costs. |
$333,750 (repayable) |
$445,000 |
|
|
Avignon |
The aim of the project by Accès Microcrédit Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine is to foster economic development in official language minority communities (OLMCs) in the Gaspésie and Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine regions, by offering mentoring, coaching and training activities to Anglophone entrepreneurs. |
CED’s support, provided under the QEDP, focuses specifically on project activities related exclusively to OLMC clients. |
$252,152 (non-repayable) |
$965,780 |
|
|
Parc régional Petite-Cascapédia |
Bonaventure |
The aim of the project is to enhance the winter tourism experience in the Parc régional Petite-Cascapédia by creating an area dedicated to alpine skiing and snowboarding beginners. The main activities that will be undertaken are the creation of a training hill, including a learning area to initiate new clients; the acquisition and installation of a “magic carpet”-type lift; and the development of a new beginner-level run. |
CED’s support, provided under the TGP, will focus on overall project costs. |
$250,000 (non-repayable) |
$780,000 |
|
Le Regroupement des pêcheurs professionnels du sud de la Gaspésie inc. (RPPSG) |
Le Rocher-Percé |
The aim of the RPPSG’s project is to complete the technological development of the JOBEL National software program (electronic log enabling fishermen to transmit their commercial fishing data) and market it in the Atlantic provinces. |
CED’s support, provided under the REGI program, will specifically cover external programmer fees, the development of a marketing strategy, and commercialization outside Quebec. |
$201,168 (non-repayable) |
$683,320 |
|
La Côte-de-Gaspé |
The overall aim of the project is to market the 2024, 2025 and 2026 editions of the Festival en chanson de Petite-Vallée. |
CED’s support, provided under the QEDP, will focus on costs related to marketing the festival outside Quebec, translation and a study of visitor provenance. |
$180,000 (non-repayable) |
$8,455,250 |
|
|
La Martre Development Corporation |
La Haute-Gaspésie |
The aim of the project is to enhance the tourism experience offered by the La Martre Development Corporation by developing trails for the historical interpretation of the La Martre lighthouse, creating and installing an escape room game in the lighthouse keeper’s house (including leasehold improvements), and developing an artifact exhibit room. |
CED’s support, provided under the TGP, will focus on costs associated with developing the interpretation trails, making leasehold improvements to the lighthouse keeper’s house, and creating and installing an escape room game. |
$144,500 (non-repayable) |
$205,000 |
|
Gestion Michel Dugas inc. (Concept K) |
La Haute-Gaspésie |
The aim of the project is to support the growth of Gestion Michel Dugas inc. (operating under the name of Concept K) by improving its productivity and increasing its production capacity. More precisely, the project provides for the acquisition and installation of new production equipment and the relocation of operations from the Sainte-Anne-des-Monts service point to new facilities. |
CED’s support, provided under the QEDP, will focus on the acquisition and installation of equipment, including new computer systems for the workshop production stations, the network system, a two-headed embroiderer, and a hybrid laser, as well as a portion of the work to refit the facilities and divide up the workspaces. |
$125,000 (repayable) |
$610,000 |
Information
Media Relations, CED
media@dec-ced.gc.ca