Over $900,000 for the Development of Three Montérégie Businesses

The Government of Canada supports projects by Aluproteck, Multiple Awnings and LITO Green Motion

BOUCHERVILLE, QC, April 12, 2019 /CNW Telbec/ - Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED) Aluproteck, Multiple Awnings and LITO Green Motion will be able to continue their operations more effectively with the help of a total of $920,000 in repayable contributions from Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions.

With this financial assistance, Aluproteck Inc. will be able to complete its project to acquire specialized anodizing equipment, which will help the company get off the ground. Multiple Awnings Inc. will be able to increase its productivity and implement an international marketing strategy. LITO Green Motion Inc. will be able to market its flagship product, the SORA luxury electric motorcycle, in the United States.

The funding was announced today by the Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, Member of Parliament for Gaspésie–Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine and Minister of National Revenue. The Government of Canada's assistance will help the recipient businesses achieve their set objectives. Their respective projects will generate total investments of nearly $6M and create 72 jobs in Montérégie.

The Government of Canada is committed to creating close partnerships with Quebec businesses to support their efforts to innovate and increase their productivity and competitiveness, and contribute to the economic vitality of the regions, job creation and the improvement of citizens' quality of life.

Quotes
"By helping businesses invest in equipment and tools that will enhance their performance, and by encouraging product marketing and market development projects, the Government of Canada is remaining true to its commitments to drive expansion, innovation and exports. I am delighted to know that these projects will help create more than 70 high-quality jobs in the Montérégie region."

The Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of National Revenue

"In line with our commitment to foster growth for the Canadian economy, the Government of Canada's goal is to provide better support for businesses that are making investments to improve their productivity and ensure their growth and that of the Canadian economy."

The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister responsible for CED

Quick facts
Today's announcement was made on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister responsible for the Innovation, Science and Economic Development portfolio, which is made up of 17 federal departments and agencies, including CED and the other five regional development agencies.

The funding was awarded under CED's Quebec Economic Development Program and Regional Economic Growth through Innovation program.

For more information on CED and its priorities, consult the 2018-2019 Departmental Plan or visit www.dec-ced.gc.ca.

For 50 years now, the Government of Canada has been actively participating in regional economic development in Quebec: half a century of concrete action dedicated to the development of the regions and local businesses.

Related products
For more information about the projects, please refer to the related backgrounder.

Related backgrounder

Proponent	Contribution – Investment – Description of the project
LITO Green Motion Inc.	Repayable contribution of $500,000 out of a total investment of $1.7M LITO Green Motion (LITO) develops, manufactures and markets powerful luxury electric motorcycles under the SORA brand. The SORA is made of a carbon fibre casing and an aeronautical-grade aluminum chassis, and is equipped with sophisticated power management that indicates, when entering a destination into the GPS, whether the driver has enough battery power to get there. Since its creation in 2009, the company has invested over $4M in R&D and certification. Since 2014, LITO has delivered its first units in Canada, the United States, Germany, France and Kazakhstan.  The purpose of the project is to implement a marketing strategy in the United States for the new-generation SORA. The activities to be undertaken and funded by CED include hiring a sales and marketing director; developing two prototypes; certifying certain components based on improvements made to the SORA model; developing and producing promotional tools; developing and optimizing the website; advertising on conventional media and social networks, developing LITO Green Motion's brand image; and participating in trade fairs and holding special events (including acquiring a booth and transporting the prototypes). This project is expected to create 24 jobs.
Aluproteck Inc.	Repayable contribution of $320,000 out of a total investment of $3.8M Aluproteck is a start-up that was incorporated in December 2017. The SME will set up a new anodizing plant – anodizing is a process that involves depositing an oxide layer onto aluminum to make a product more aesthetically pleasing and thereby prevent corrosion and wear. The company has developed an innovative process that reduces filtration sludge (manufacturing waste), caused mainly by the dissolution of the aluminum surface, by 85% to 90% compared with conventional methods, without affecting the performance of the treatment or aesthetics of the aluminum. Production is scheduled to begin in January 2019. The main customers will be extruders that are part of global value chains, industrial glaziers and aluminum panel manufacturers. Aluproteck also plans to work directly with local companies in the aerospace, mechanical engineering and construction sectors, which currently need to do business with suppliers outside Quebec owing to the limited availability of this type of service. The goal of the project is for Aluproteck to start up a modern anodizing plant. CED's contribution will be used to acquire specialized anodizing equipment, including a boiler, a cooler and a condenser, as well as water treatment equipment. This project will create 27 jobs.
Multiple Awnings Inc.	Repayable contribution of $100,000 out of a total investment of $388,875 Multiple Awnings is an SME specialized in the design, manufacture and sale of stationary, retractable and self-supporting awnings. The company also offers other products, including solariums, screens and shelters. It serves the residential, commercial and industrial sectors and is considered one of the largest manufacturers of residential and commercial awnings in Canada. Multiple Awnings manufactures and markets the Brasilia Slim, an innovative awning of European design that retracts completely to protect it from winter weather, providing it with a longer life span than its main competitors.  The purpose of the project is to improve the company's productivity and increase its production capacity, as well as implement a marketing strategy in the United States. The main activities will focus on optimizing the awning packaging process and some of the plant's workstations, acquiring manufacturing equipment, improving computer systems, developing a transactional website, purchasing advertising, and taking prospecting trips to find distributors in the target market. CED's contribution will cover professional fees and licensing fees related to computer system improvements, advertising expenses and prospecting trips. The project is expected to create 21 jobs.

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SOURCE Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions

Media Relations, Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, Tel.: [phone], Email: [email protected]