Amqui, Quebec, June 29, 2010 – The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of State for Canada Economic Development, today announced three financial contributions totalling $1,090,358. This funding, granted to businesses in the region, is intended to support the development of the forest biomass sector, a promising niche market according to all development stakeholders in La Matapédia RCM.
“These projects are part of La Matapédia’s 2008-2013 strategic development plan, which is the result of the extraordinary mobilization of regional development stakeholders. This co-operative effort has highlighted the favourable outlook for the biomass energy sector. Thanks to the expertise developed by SEREX and businesses in the region, La Matapédia RCM is diversifying its economy and industrial base, and gaining a head start in this promising sector,” said the Minister of State.
Service de recherche et d’expertise en transformation des produits forestiers ( SEREX)
Founded in 1998, SEREX is an accredited college-level technology transfer centre whose mission is to provide the secondary and tertiary wood processing sector with research and development services, technical assistance, technology transfer and quality control. Its operations consist mainly in developing and improving the performance of wood products and their derivatives.
A non-repayable contribution of $705,000 from Canada Economic Development under the Business and Regional Growth program will allow this organization to design and create a prototype of a boiler fuelled by forest biomass. SEREX will also ensure the development of this sector by sharing its expertise with businesses operating in this industry, which should lead to concrete, lasting economic benefits.
Coopérative forestière de La Matapédia
In business since 1994, this worker’s co-operative boasts over 70 members. It provides manufacturers and private lot owners with flat-rate logging, hauling, culling, forestry road system construction and wood transport services. A repayable contribution of $360,000 from the Community Adjustment Fund will allow the co-operative to purchase the equipment it needs to convert wood residues into biomass to fuel furnaces in commercial, institutional and multi-residential buildings.
Productions Gaëtan Roy (9025-5043 Québec Inc.)
Since 1991, this SMEs has been specializing in the manufacture of custom metal products for various markets. A repayable contribution of $25,358 from Canada Economic Development under the Community Diversification program will allow the company to purchase and modify the equipment required to produce metal components for the manufacturing of boilers fuelled by forest biomass.
Bio-resources, the environment and green energy are promising growth sectors for the Bas-Saint-Laurent, as are tourism, marine sciences and technologies, metal products and innovative materials. It is therefore in these priority areas that Canada Economic Development has decided to focus its development efforts in the region.
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Sources:
Catherine Vallée
Communications
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 514-283-0368
Email: catherine.vallee@dec-ced.gc.ca
Ève Cardinal
Special Assistant, Communications
Office of the Honourable Denis Lebel
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 819-997-3319
Email: eve.cardinal@dec-ced.gc.ca
