Gatineau, Quebec, June 16, 2010 – The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Member of Parliament for Pontiac, today announced, on behalf of the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of State for Canada Economic Development, the awarding of $150,000 in repayable funding to the dairy Laiterie de l’Outaouais which officially opened today.
Awarded through the Community Diversification program, this financial assistance enabled the enterprise to acquire production equipment. The project to establish this new dairy in the region necessitated a $2.6 million investment, which has already created 11 new jobs and will create four other positions within a year.
“While building on its ability to offer value-added and further processed products, Laiterie de l’Outaouais will continue manufacturing common dairy products. This new plant will strengthen the commercial potential of agri-food processing in the Outaouais region and boost employment in the regional manufacturing sector. For these reasons, Canada Economic Development is pleased to support this startup project by helping fund the purchase of specialized production equipment,” explained Minister Cannon.
Laiterie de l’Outaouais is the result of the efforts of a small re-start committee that came together following closure of the Château dairy in 2006 in order to restore a dairy operation in the region. Its body of shareholders is characterized by its composition, which includes two cooperatives, one of employees and the other of consumers.
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Sources:
François Bélisle
Communications
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 819-825-3976
E-mail: francois.belisle@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
