Harper Government Supports Job Creation in Drummondville

DRUMMONDVILLE, QUEBEC--(Marketwire - Nov. 9, 2011) - The Honourable Andrée Champagne, Senator, today announced, on behalf of the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, that Soucy Rivalair Inc. has been awarded financial assistance to implement measures to strengthen its competitiveness.

"Our government is proud to contribute to job creation and the economic growth of the region," said the Honourable Andrée Champagne. "The Soucy Group plays an important role in the long-term economic development of the Centre-du-Québec."

Soucy Rivalair Inc., part of the Soucy Group's manufacturing division, specializes in the design and manufacture of products and parts for recreational, industrial farming and military vehicles. The project supported by the government will help the company diversify its activities and increase its market appeal. In concrete terms, Soucy Rivalair Inc. will modify its production line to integrate a complex operation for the fabrication of large scale metal parts. This new technology will help the firm better serve its clients.

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The $800,000 in repayable financial assistance announced today has been awarded under Canada Economic Development's Business and Regional Growth program, which is designed to reinforce the conditions conductive to the sustainable development of Quebec's regions and SMEs. More specifically, Soucy Rivalair Inc. will use this funding to acquire two high-tech machining centres.

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Business and Regional Growth

Centre-du-Québec

The Business and Regional Growth program strengthens the conditions conducive to the sustainable growth of Quebec's regions and small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Administered by the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, this program centres on two main components: SME Competitiveness and Sectoral and Regional Growth.

The Agency's priority for Centre-du-Québec is to support projects that promote the development of the following sectors:

• materials processing (rubber; plastics and composites; metallic products; manufacture of computer and electronic equipment and electric material; furniture and milled wood)
• transportation equipment and machinery
• agrifood
• residual materials recovery and conversion

Preference is given to the following types of intervention:

• productivity support
• innovation support
• export support