Coopérative forestière de Girardville receives $200,000 in funding from Government of Canada for manufacture of natural plant-based products

Girardville, Quebec, November 6, 2009 – The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of State for Canada Economic Development, today announced that the Coopérative forestière de Girardville has been awarded $200,000 in non-repayable funding to begin processing and marketing natural spices from various plants in the boreal forest. The forestry co-op, which is already engaged in the manufacture of essential oils, plans to launch a new division of non-timber forest products.

This financial assistance has been awarded through the Community Diversification program, the Community Adjustment Fund provided for under Canada’s Economic Action Plan and Canada Economic Development’s regular budgets. Necessitating an overall investment of $676,000, the project will result in the maintenance of 15 seasonal jobs for the firm’s picking operations as well as the creation of another 15 new positions to supply the raw materials for the new spice production activities.

“This project, which centres on the use of plants from the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean forests and the enhancement of local skills, could prove to be an important vector of sustainable development for Girardville. This new production line has the potential to open up new prospects for the forest sector and further the economic diversification of a region severely hit by the forest crisis. The Government of Canada adopted its Economic Action Plan with the precise goal of supporting projects like this one being carried out by the Coopérative forestière de Girardville. Armed with a budget of some $14 billion, this series of economic recovery measures is intended to stimulate investment, open up new opportunities and create jobs,” explained the Minister of State.

To carry out this initiative, the co-opplans to redevelop a section of its existing building for the processing of natural spices from the boreal forest. It will install a high-capacity drying chamber and grinding mill, set up a storage area and engage the services of marketing experts to help it bring these new products to market.

By increasing development of non-timber forest resources and offering unique, high-quality products, the Coopérative forestière de Girardville will be in a position to gain a strategic foothold in a growing niche market while setting itself apart from the competition. This project will serve as a promising opportunity for the firm, which plays a key role in the regional economy, to diversify its forestry activities and ensure its sustainability.

For more on Canada’s Economic Action Plan, see www.actionplan.gc.ca.

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Sources:

Suzanne Thebarge
Communications
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 514-496-6714
Cell. : 418-321-0295
E-mail: suzanne.thebarge@dec-ced.gc.ca

Simon Bachand
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Denis Lebel
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 613-996-6236
E-mail: simon.bachand@dec-ced.gc.ca