Saint-Antoine de Tilly, Quebec, June 18, 2007 The Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Minister of Labour and Minister of Canada Economic Development, today announced the awarding of $1.5 million in non-repayable funding by Canada's new government to the organization Développement PME Chaudière-Appalaches.
"In directly fostering the emergence of new exporters, helping dozens of small and medium-sized businesses arm themselves with strategies to improve their productivity and enabling numerous enterprises to become more innovative, Développement PME Chaudière-Appalaches plays a part in strengthening the regional economy. I am sure it will continue doing a brilliant job over the years to come," stated Minister Blackburn.
"With today's announcement, Canada Economic Development is recognizing the key role our organization plays in providing support to the small and medium-sized enterprises of Chaudière-Appalaches," noted Développement PME Chaudière-Appalaches Director-General Michel Gilbert. "This invaluable assistance will ensure our organization is even better able to guide businesses in their efforts to develop their managerial capabilities and make the transition from a conventional management style to one more akin to world-class enterprises. In so doing, Développement PME Chaudière-Appalaches seeks to support the region's businesses in their ongoing quest for improvement and excellence," he added.
Développement PME Chaudière-Appalaches is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping the region's enterprises acquire the knowledge they need to become more innovative, boost their productivity, increase their exports and improve the functioning of their supply chain.
The new Government of Canada is committed to principles and policies that will set the stage for economic growth and new business opportunities. To that end, this funding from Canada Economic Development, awarded through the RSI program for Québec/Chaudière-Appalaches, will enable the organization to continue providing skills enhancement, networking, coaching and foreign market penetration support services to SMEs. Between now and 2008-2009, Développement PME Chaudière-Appalaches will organize some 50 activities aimed at helping firms become export ready, prepare for innovation or reinforce other strategic skills, will co-ordinate seven new foreign trade missions and will carry out 60 business coaching projects among Chaudière-Appalaches enterprises.
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Sources:
Guylaine Beaudoin
Communications
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 418-648-7464
E-mail: guylaine.beaudoin@dec-ced.gc.ca
Roxane Marchand
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 819-953-5646
Cell.: 613-816-5094
E-mail: roxane.marchand@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca
