Government of Canada grants $393,901 in funding to Coasters' Association Inc. for development of new economic sector

Blanc-Sablon, Quebec, June 10, 2010 – The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of State for Canada Economic Development, announces the awarding of $393,901 in non-repayable funding to the Coasters' Association Inc. of the Lower North Shore region (Basse-Côte-Nord) for the development of a new economic sector capitalizing on the many small berries that grow in this area of Quebec.

The project is aimed at structuring a new regional economic activity involving the picking, processing and commercialization of five varieties of berries—the cloudberry, small cranberry, mountain cranberry, black crowberry and high bush-cranberry—along with the wild mushrooms that grow in abundance in the Basse-Côte-Nord region. In addition to these conventional activities, the association hopes to develop innovative products for the agri-food and natural health sectors. A cooperative will also be set up to oversee the harvesting, production and commercialization of the most promising products. Profits from these activities will mainly go to coordinating the project, conducting field inventories, developing new products and carrying out market and feasibility studies.

"The economic diversification of Quebec's regions is a priority for the Government of Canada, and this project in the Basse-Côte-Nord offers promising prospects for all of the region's communities. I am pleased to announce funding for this mobilizing initiative, an undertaking that will bring about the creation of four new jobs and help preserve the association's nine existing positions. The launch of this project is sure to breathe new vitality into these local communities while stimulating the region's entrepreneurial spirit," explained the Minister of State.

Representing the interests of the English-speaking community in 15 Basse-Côte-Nord municipalities, the Coasters' Association is actively involved in promoting the region's social and economic development. Over the longer range, the organization hopes to bring about the emergence of new processing plants in the bio-food sector and thereby foster development of a new economic activity capable of complementing the fisheries sector.

This contribution has been granted through the Linguistic Duality Economic Development Initiative, a measure that, in effect until March 31, 2013, aims to foster the economic development of official-language minority communities (OLMCs) through a range of activities centred on innovation, entrepreneurship, partnerships and economic diversification.

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Sources:

Claudie Lamontagne
Communications
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 418-722-3280 or 1-800-463-9073
E-mail: claudie.lamontagne@dec-ced.gc.ca

Ève Cardinal
Special Assistant, Communications
Office of the Honourable Denis Lebel
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 819-997-3319
E-mail: eve.cardinal@dec-ced.gc.ca