Longueuil, Quebec, June 7, 2010 – The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of State for Canada Economic Development, today announced the awarding of $1,434,500 in total repayable funding to four manufacturers in the Montérégie region. This financial assistance will enable these firms to acquire leading-edge equipment and thereby increase their productivity.
As such, Les Plastiques Qualiplast Inc. has been granted $250,000 and Usinage Tourmac Inc. $545,000 for plant expansions, while Béton Brunet Ltd. will receive $479,000 and Industries Martins $160,500 for the implementation of targeted plans to improve their production chains. All four companies share the common objective of broadening their respective client bases.
These projects will lead each of the four Montérégie firms to hire additional staff. Indeed, Les Plastiques Qualiplast Inc. expects to recruit six new people by October 2010, and, by March 2011, Usinage Tourmac Inc. hopes to create 16 full-time jobs in various industrial fields, Béton Brunet Ltd. plans to hire 23 new workers and Industries Martins Inc. intends to add 24 people to its workforce.
"The creation of sustainable employment is excellent news for the Montérégie, a region whose economy has been hard-hit by the economic crisis. SMEs that build their growth on innovation and value-added activities, as is the case with Les Plastiques Qualiplast, Usinage Tourmac, Béton Brunet and Industries Martins, have always been a driving force of the Canadian economy. That is why Canada Economic Development believes it is important to support these regional enterprises, all of which distinguish themselves by virtue of the quality of their products," explained Minister of State Lebel.
These financial contributions have been granted through the Community Adjustment Fund established under Canada's Economic Action Plan, a measure adopted in January 2009 to counteract the impacts of the economic downturn, stimulate job creation and address the transitional and adjustment challenges facing communities and industries undergoing restructuring.
"With the assistance of the special measures provided for in Canada's Economic Action Plan, our national economy is starting to recover. Implementation of Phase II of this plan will help further lay the foundations for solid long-term economic growth and job creation," the Minister of State concluded.
or more on Canada’s Economic Action Plan, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.
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Sources:
Isabelle Beaudin
Communications
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 514-496-6714
E-mail: isabelle.beaudin@dec-ced.gc.ca
Ève Cardinal
Special Assistant, Communications
Office of the Honourable Denis Lebel
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 819-997-3319
E-mail: eve.cardinal@dec-ced.gc.ca
