16 January 2012
EDMUNDSTON, New Brunswick
The Honourable Bernard Valcourt, Minister of State for Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) and La Francophonie and the Honourable Madeleine Dubé, Minister of Health and MLA for Edmundston-St-Basile, announced a combined investment of $231,000 for Enseignes Pattison Sign Group in Edmundston today.
"Our investment in Enseignes Pattison Sign Group will enable the company to modernize its operations, improve its productivity, reinforce its competitiveness," said Minister Valcourt. "Our government’s top priority is the economy and job creation while we are going through these difficult economic times, and we are getting there thanks to investments like this one.”
"Our investment in Enseignes Pattison Sign Group will ensure the success of this important company for Edmundston and the surrounding areas," said Health Minister Madeleine Dubé on behalf of the Economic Development Minister, Paul Robichaud. "Investing in all the regions of Northern New Brunswick, including the Madawaska region, is very important for our government and our businesses."
The Enseignes Pattison Sign Group plant in Edmundston is part of Jim Pattison Industries Ltd., a business network active in various industries nationwide and abroad. Founded in 1963, Enseignes Imperial Signs Ltée / Ltd. (EISL) specialized in the sign industry and had developed over the years a diverse range of visual communication products. In September 1998, EISL was bought by Jim Pattison Industries Ltd. This merger has enabled EISL to join a group that held the largest share of the Canadian market of the sign industry.
The project involves acquiring new cutting edge technology equipment in order to become more productive with certain sign manufacturing components. The project also includes facility improvements for the Edmundston plant.
"Given the challenges faced by Canadian manufacturing industries in the current economic climate, it is crucial to innovate operationally and keep ourselves on the cutting edge of technology. This investment will allow Enseignes Pattison Sign Group to maintain its competitive strength in the North American market, "said Don Belanger, president of the company. “This project will allow us to improve our productivity in Edmundston. Thanks to excellent partners like ACOA and the Province of New Brunswick, we can again continue to strengthen our foundation and retain key jobs right here in North-Western New Brunswick. " The Government of Canada, through ACOA, will contribute $165,000 to the project under the Business Development Program (BDP) while the Province of New Brunswick, through its Northern New Brunswick Economic Development and Innovation Fund (NNBEDIF), is contributing $66,000. The company will invest $119,000.
FOR BROADCAST USE:
Enseignes Pattison Sign Group, an Edmundston company specialized in the sign industry, will be able to modernize its operations and improve its productivity and competitiveness thanks to a combined investment of $231,000 from the federal and provincial governments.
The Honourable Bernard Valcourt, Minister of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) and La Francophonie and and the Honourable Madeleine Dubé, Minister of Health and MLA for Edmundston-St-Basile, made the announcement today.
This investment will enable Enseignes Pattison Sign Group acquire new cutting edge technology equipment in order to become more productive with certain sign manufacturing components. The project also includes facility improvements for the Edmundston plant.
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INFORMATION:
Andrea Richer,
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Bernard Valcourt
613-790-3637
Bruce MacFarlane
Regional Development Corporation
506-444-4606
M. Daniel Laplante
Director of operations
Enseignes Pattison Sign Group
506-733-0191
Ted Parisé
Senior Communications Officer
ACOA New Brunswick
506-452-3917
