Food and beverage processors to expand business with federal investment

HAMILTON, ON, Feb. 3 /CNW/ - Springer's Meats Inc. will benefit from an Economic Action Plan contribution of $362,500 to upgrade its meat processing plant. The announcement was made today by the Honourable Gary Goodyear , Minister of State for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario).

"This investment will allow this family-run business to expand and meet the national and international demand for its products," said Minister Goodyear. "Our government is committed to creating jobs and supporting the workers, communities and businesses of southern Ontario."

Springer's Meats Inc., a processor of dry cured and cooked meat products including pepperoni, hot dogs, and a wide variety of smoked and deli meats, will use the repayable contribution to expand its plant with a shipping department fitted with a shipping office, refrigeration, and a racking system to optimize the storage, warehousing and shipping to its clients. The company expects to create seven new jobs with these upgrades.

"Thanks to the help of the Southern Ontario Development Program, the new shipping and distribution area will not only secure the jobs of our employees, but create new work opportunities for many residents of Hamilton," said Walter Mueller Jr., Director of Springer's Meats Inc.

Minister Goodyear also announced $125,565 for new equipment at Henry of Pelham Inc., a family-owned and operated St. Catharines winery. With this contribution, the company will purchase leading-edge filters that will put them at the forefront of innovation for grape juice and wine processing in southern Ontario.

The federal government is supporting these projects through the Southern Ontario Development Program (SODP) food and beverage processing sector intake, to help stimulate job creation and business growth in the second largest manufacturing sector in the province.

For additional details on the SODP, please refer to the backgrounder, visit the FedDev Ontario web site at www.southernontario.gc.ca, or call 1-866-593-5505. For additional information on Canada's Economic Action Plan, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.

This news release is available online at: www.southernontario.gc.ca and www.actionplan.gc.ca.

    
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                                 Backgrounder
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                 Southern Ontario Development Program (SODP)
    

Announced in Canada's Economic Action Plan, the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) was established to deliver federal economic development programs to support the priorities of workers, businesses and communities in Southern Ontario. Budget 2009 allocated $1 billion over five years for the new Agency.

The Southern Ontario Development Program (SODP) was established as a core program of FedDev Ontario. It will build upon the assets and strengths of communities to create an environment where businesses can thrive and maximize southern Ontario's potential to succeed in the knowledge-based economy.

Funding under this program will go towards projects that can stimulate local economies and enhance the growth and competitiveness of local businesses and communities. Approximately $100 million has been allocated to the SODP in 2009-10, including the following:

    
    -   Nearly $63 million through a general intake process;
    -   $20 million through an intake for the food and beverage processing
        sector;
    -   $15.75 million for the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters' (CME)
        SMART Program to fund an estimated 300 projects that will help small-
        and medium-sized manufacturers increase their productivity and
        competitiveness in the global economy; and
    -   $1.6 million for the Ontario Chamber of Commerce's Export Market
        Access Program to help southern Ontario businesses that would like to
        increase their sales internationally.
    

For more information, please visit the FedDev Ontario website at www.southernontario.gc.ca or call 1-866-593-5505.

For further information: For media enquiries: Gary Toft, Director of Communications, Office of the Honourable Gary Goodyear, [phone]; Media Relations, FedDev Ontario, [phone]