Four Estrie businesses carry out expansion projects

Government of Canada awards nearly $400,000 in financial assistance to Façoteck Packaging, Confections Troy, Créations Jade and Charcuterie Scotstown

ASCOT CORNER, QC, May 17, 2018 /CNW Telbec/ - Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED)

Businesses need to regularly improve and modernize their production equipment and facilities to stay competitive and support their growth. With this in mind, four companies in Ascot Corner, Scotstown and Weedon will enjoy CED support to increase their productivity, boost their production capacity and commercialize their products.

By investing in the production capacity of businesses, the Government of Canada is standing by its commitments to help them expand, innovate and commercialize their products to create good-quality jobs and ensure a prosperous Canadian economy.

The repayable contributions totalling $390,000 were announced today by the Honourable Marie‑Claude Bibeau, Member of Parliament for Compton-Stanstead and Minister of International Development and La Francophonie, acting on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED).

With this funding, Façoteck Packaging Inc., Confections Troy Ltée. (website in French only), 135456 Québec Inc. (Créations Jade) and 9308-2667 Québec Inc. (Charcuterie Scotstown) (website in French only) were able to acquire leading-edge production equipment and develop commercialization activities. These projects will generate total investments of more than $2.6 million and create nine jobs in the region.

The funding awarded by the Government of Canada through CED's Quebec Economic Development Program will help the recipient businesses meet their growth objectives.

Quotes

"These four businesses set themselves apart by their know-how and vitality, and are strengthening our region. The financial support from the Government of Canada is helping them significantly improve their products and services and develop their expertise. Sometimes new equipment provides the impetus needed to spark growth."

The Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Member of Parliament for Compton-Stanstead and Minister of International Development and La Francophonie

"As Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, my goal is to help businesses grow and innovate so that they can become more competitive and create good-quality jobs and wealth for Canadians. That is why we are supporting these four enterprises, whose successes benefit the region and the Canadian economy overall."

The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister responsible for CED

Quick facts

• CED is one of the six regional development agencies under the responsibility of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development.
• For more information on CED's key directions until 2021, consult Strategic Plan 2021 or visit www.dec-ced.gc.ca.
• Budget 2018 proposes to provide an additional $511 million in funding over five years on a cash basis, starting in 2018–2019, for the regional development agencies to support the Innovation and Skills Plan across all regions of Canada.
• Of the $511 million, $99 million will be allocated to CED, of which $22 million will go toward supporting the new Women Entrepreneurship Strategy.
• For more information on these projects, please see the backgrounder.

Backgrounder

Promoter	Contribution – Investments – Project description
Façoteck Packaging Inc.	Repayable contribution of $200,000 out of a total investment of $1,805,000 The project consisted in ensuring the company's expansion and improved productivity through the acquisition of equipment for the production and packaging of capsules, the conversion of a new building into a warehouse and the fit-up of new production rooms in the plant. CED's contribution went toward the acquisition of the capsule packaging equipment. Founded in 1989, Façoteck is an innovative business that develops and manufactures natural health products, cosmetics (creams and soaps) and pharmaceuticals, as a subcontractor. This project is expected to create 7 jobs in the region, in addition to the 40 existing jobs.
Confections Troy Ltée. (website in French only)	Repayable contribution of $100,000 out of a total investment of $200,000 The project consists in improving the business's productivity and production capacity through the acquisition of equipment. CED's contribution will go toward all project activities, including the purchase and installation of equipment such as an embroidery machine and semi-automatic machines for affixing belt loops and cargo pockets. Confections Troy has been a Canadian pants manufacturer since 1945. It manufactures made-to-measure pants for police officers and firefighters, pants and Bermuda shorts for school uniforms and many other types of work pants, including protective trousers. The company provides custom designs and solutions, ensuring that the pants are comfortable, easy to maintain and durable. The business has 42 employees.
135456 Québec Inc. (Créations Jade)	Repayable contribution of $50,000 out of a total investment of $535,000 The project consists in improving the business's productivity and production capacity through the purchase and installation of a digital textile printer. CED's assistance will help the SME acquire a greener digital printer that uses 96% water-based ink. Moreover, this technology eliminates waste because printing errors will be quickly detected (after two or three t-shirts) and, since the ink is water-based, the t-shirts can be cleaned and reprinted. With the new technology, the company can produce small batches more quickly, resulting in greater productivity and thus fostering business growth. Created in 1981, the company started out as a clothing manufacturer and adjusted to market demand by adding promotional items to its product line (late 1990s) and ceasing its sewing activities (2002). It now has 28 employees and focuses mainly on products and services related to business visibility. Its main production activities include embroidery, silkscreen printing and infographics, and its product line includes promotional items, corporate clothing and digital printing on such items as posters, banners and vehicles.
9308-2667 Québec Inc. (Charcuterie Scotstown) (website in French only)	Repayable contribution of $40,000 out of a total investment of $90,000 The project involves expanding the company by increasing its ripening capacity to meet growing demand for its products, and improving productivity by refitting the manufacturing rooms. CED's contribution will go toward the addition of a meat aging room, the acquisition of a refrigeration cell, space fit-ups and the installation of electrical and refrigeration components and other elements needed to upgrade the manufacturing process. This SME started out as a family business and has developed a broad line of craft deli meats over the past 20 years. The company employs seven people and specializes in dried deli meats (e.g. dried sausage), cooked products (e.g. ham and terrine) and raw products (e.g. sausage). It distributes its products in gourmet grocery stores, butcher shops and cheese shops, as well as in restaurants through a distributor for that market. The enterprise has provincial certification, serving geographic markets in the Estrie and Montréal regions.
Summary	Number of projects: 4 Number of jobs created: 9 CED's contributions: $390,000 Total investments generated by these projects: $2,630,000

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SOURCE Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions

For further information: Media Relations, Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, Tel.: [phone], Email: [e-mail]