Saint-Gédéon, Quebec, June 15, 2005 - The Honourable Jacques Saada, Minister of Canada Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Francophonie, today announced the awarding of a $31,250 repayable contribution to Ferme Domaine de la Rivière for the development and commercialization of raw milk cheeses. The project, necessitating a total investment of $659,375, will result in the creation of two new jobs. In addition to this contribution from Canada Economic Development, the enterprise will receive $15,000 from the Société d'aide au développement des collectivité (SADC) Lac-St-Jean Est, the Community Futures Development Corporation serving the region, under the Rural Enterprise Program. "This assistance delivered to Ferme Domaine de la Rivière is in line with the Government of Canada's priority to bolster the economic vitality of Quebec's regions. This innovative project will help the enterprise gain a competitive foothold on various markets while encouraging the transformation of local raw materials," explained Minister Saada. The funding from Canada Economic Development is provided under the IDEA-SME Program and is consistent with the focus of the Agency's business office in Saguenay¿Lac-Saint-Jean on making the agri-food sector a development priority by supporting enterprises in their efforts to develop niche products or adjust existing products to the demands of the market. Canada Economic Development's mandate is to promote the economic development of the regions of Quebec. Primarily through financial assistance programs, the Agency elicits and supports the implementation of economic development projects. The two priorities the Agency has set itself are to foster innovation and the knowledge economy in each region of Quebec, and to help communities that are having difficulty adjusting to the new economy. In this way, the Agency contributes to the attainment of the Government of Canada's objective of building the 21st Century economy. -30- Sources: Guylaine Beaudoin Communications Canada Economic Development Tel.: (514) 283-0368 Cell.: (418) 580-8215 Daniel Dezainde Press Secretary Office of the Honourable Jacques Saada Canada Economic Development Tel.: (514) 496-1282
