Groupe Savoie is increasing its productivity and the quality of its hardwood products with the purchase of a new automated grading line at the Saint-Quentin mill. The Governments of Canada and New Brunswick announced today a combined investment of $1 million towards the project.
“The Government of Canada’s top priority is economic growth and job creation,” said the Honourable Bernard Valcourt, Minister of State for Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) and La Francophonie. “By supporting an environment in which businesses can thrive, grow and creating quality jobs, our investment of $500,000 through ACOA’s Business Development Program helped Groupe Savoie Inc. acquire an automated wood grading system that will increase productivity and product quality.”
“Making production and product quality improvements are important investments to ensure the viability of Groupe Savoie, one of the region’s top employers,” said Economic Development Minister Robichaud. “Our government firmly believes in investing in all regions of New Brunswick, including northern New Brunswick and Restigouche County.”
“With the globalization of markets, we have no choice but to be at the forefront of technological development”, said Jean-Claude Savoie, President of Groupe Savoie. “This project will put us on par with the world’s best producers of hardwood and at the same time enable us to maintain productive installations in Northern New Brunswick. Our region needs these much needed jobs for its own survival.”
The federal and provincial investments have enabled Groupe Savoie to acquire a wood grading line that reduces errors in the grading process, increasing productivity by 20% and improving the quality of the end product. Groupe Savoie, which was certified ISO 9002 in 1996, is continuously seeking to improve the efficiency of its operations.
Through ACOA’s Business Development Program (BDP), the Government of Canada is providing a repayable contribution of $500,000 toward the project, while the Province of New Brunswick is investing an additional $500,000.
The next phase of Canada’s Economic Action Plan will continue to help all regions of the country move forward by creating the right conditions for job creation and economic growth. ACOA helps deliver the plan in Atlantic Canada by focusing on improved business skills and productivity, innovation, commercialization and adoption of new technologies, increased access for businesses to international markets, and stronger communities.
FOR BROADCAST USE:
The Honourable Bernard Valcourt, Minister of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and La Francophonie, and the Honourable Paul Robichaud, Deputy Premier and Minister of Economic Development, were in Saint-Quentin today to announce funding for Groupe Savoie to acquire a state of the art automated wood grading system.
The project will allow the company to increase its productivity and the quality of its hardwood products.
The Government of Canada, through ACOA, and the Province of New Brunswick are both providing $500,000 towards the project for a combined investment of $ 1 million.
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INFORMATION:
Stéphanie Bilodeau
Senior Communications Officer
ACOA New Brunswick
506-452-3034
stephanie.bilodeau@acoa-apeca.gc.ca
Bruce Macfarlane
Corporate Secretary
Regional Development Corporation
506-444-4606
Alain Bossé
President and Manager of Operations
Groupe Savoie
506-235-6287
