Plessisville, Quebec – Acting on behalf of the Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Minister of Labour and Minister of Canada Economic Development, the Honourable Christian Paradis, Member of Parliament for Mégantic–l'Érable and Secretary of State for Agriculture, today announced that the firm Métallurgie des Appalaches Inc. has been awarded $275,000 in funding, $100,000 being in the form of a non-repayable contribution, to develop a competitive edge and sustain its growth. This project, which will require an overall investment of $1 million, will allow the firm to maintain its 38 existing jobs and create 8 to 10 new positions.

Based in Plessisville, Métallurgie des Appalaches specializes in the design, manufacture and installation of a range of innovative waste management equipment, including high-yield compactors and presses for use by sorting centres. With this project, the company intends to acquire new production equipment and introduce a quality control system and integrated management software. The firm also plans to hire a new employee to develop the northeastern U.S. market.

"The Government of Canada has made ensuring the country's prosperity one of its key priorities and is showing true leadership in this regard. As our Advantage Canada strategic plan makes clear, we are committed to giving innovative enterprises the means they need to withstand the competition and develop their full potential, both here at home and beyond our borders. This is the challenge Métallurgie des Appalaches has chosen to undertake. By improving its productivity and becoming more competitive, this firm will be better able to make the most of considerable growth opportunities," noted Mr. Paradis.

"This project will allow Métallurgie des Appalaches to develop the strategic capabilities it needs to ensure its growth. Moreover, it will help the firm strengthen its position and take advantage of a market niche that offers strong profit potential, namely waste recovery and reclamation. Without question, this will put the company in a better position to contribute to the diversification of the MRC de l'Érable's manufacturing activities and economy, a key objective for the community as a whole," commented Minister Blackburn.

"Carrying out this major project will enable us to stay on top of innovation, satisfy the strict requirements of our customers and highlight the quality of our products. Furthermore, it will make it possible for us to expand into international markets. In short, this support from Canada Economic Development will allow us to continue promoting a healthier environment for our clients and for future generations," added Métallurgie des Appalaches President Ian Morin.