The Honourable Stockwell Day, President of the Treasury Board, Minister for the Asia Pacific Gateway and Member of Parliament for Okanagan - Coquihalla on behalf of the Honourable Lynne Yelich, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification, announced Government of Canada support to help Highland Pellet Manufacturing Ltd. strengthen economic opportunities in Merritt.
"I'm pleased to announce our Government's support for this project, which is so important to our community," said Minister Day. "Investing in the Highland Pellet mill will create jobs for workers right here in Merritt while laying the foundation for a strong economic future."
Highland Pellet will establish a wood pellet mill on an industrial site in Merritt. The mill will have an initial capacity of 32,000 short tons of pellets on a single-shift basis. The construction phase of the project will provide local employment opportunities to unemployed residents and in the long term will provide full time employment to forestry sector workers.
"We are pleased to be working with the government of Canada on such an important project," said Rob McDonald of Highland Pellet Manufacturing. "Thanks to this funding, Merritt will have a state of the art pellet mill producing pellets from wood waste generated at local sawmills and from surrounding beetle killed woodlands. New full time jobs will be created as well as a great boost to the economy of the City of Merritt."
Federal funding of $2,452,000 is being provided as a repayable contribution through the Community Adjustment Fund (CAF) as part of Canada's Economic Action Plan.
The fund will provide $306 million over two years to support the most affected western Canadian communities, such as those that are heavily reliant on resource-based industries. Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) is delivering the fund in the four western provinces.
Visit the Community Adjustment Fund (CAF) in the West or Canada's Economic Action Plan for more information.
For Broadcast Use
Government of Canada funding through the Community Adjustment Fund (CAF) is supporting Highland Pellet Manufacturing Ltd. strengthen economic opportunities in Merritt, British Columbia. This federal investment of $2,452,000 will help Highland Pellet establish a wood pellet mill on an industrial site in Merritt. This project will provide local employment opportunities to unemployed residents and in the long-term provide full time employment to forestry sector workers.
For more information, contact:
Jaime Burke
Manager, Communications and Marketing
Western Economic Diversification Canada
Telephone:604-666-1318
Robert McDonald
President
Highland Pellet
Telephone: 250-378-4821
