Small business wins big challenge: Livestock Water Recycling awarded $100,000 grant to advance manure treatment technology

Calgary-based business makes the winning case for funding at The Globe and Mail and TELUS "The Challenge" contest

TORONTO, Sept. 26, 2013 /CNW/ - Livestock Water Recycling is taking home a $100,000 small business grant to contribute to a more sustainable agriculture industry by researching new manure treatment technologies in support of its less-than-glamorous but important work of cleaning livestock manure. The company squeaked past entries from more than 1,000 Canadian businesses to win the TELUS and The Globe and Mail's small business contest.

Entering its third annual call for submissions, The Challenge invited Canadian small businesses to present their biggest business obstacles for a chance to win the grant from TELUS. Entries were accepted between March 18 and May 27, 2013, and business owners were asked to outline their challenge and solution in 800 words or less. Four shortlisted semi-finalists were invited to present their business goals, challenges and proposed solutions to a panel of nine judges in June that included entrepreneurs, Globe and Mail business writers and TELUS business experts.

"We're immensely grateful for this grant that will allow us to innovate in Canada and enter international markets," said Ross Thurston, president, Livestock Water Recycling, Inc. "Thank you to TELUS and The Globe and Mail for the opportunity to continue to expand and improve our product. This represents a huge vote of confidence in the future of our business."

Based in Calgary, Livestock Water Recycling specializes in innovative manure treatment technologies for livestock operations, and uses a patented water recycling system to clean and extract fertilizer nutrients from manure for reuse. However, the business has faced market growth challenges resulting from strict government regulations around the importation of livestock manure and the capacity of its research lab. Upgrading its research and development facility to a commercial-grade, government-approved lab enables the company to further innovate and seek growth opportunities in international markets while continuing to serve its Canadian customers.

Livestock Water Recycling is profiled in today's Globe and Mail and online at http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/small-business/sb-growth/the-challenge/#dashboard/follows/.

"By definition, Livestock Water Recycling may be a small business, but there's nothing small about this company's contribution to the sustainability of our very important agricultural sector," said Jim Senko, TELUS vice-president of Small Business Solutions. "TELUS is proud to stand by businesses like Livestock Water Recycling and contribute to their growth and future innovation."

The Challenge is an annual contest which invites Canadian small business owners to present their biggest business challenge for the opportunity to win a $100,000 grant from TELUS and a national profile in The Globe and Mail.

"There are many innovative small businesses in Canada that have the potential to flourish with the right support," said Sean Stanleigh, editor of The Globe and Mail's Report on Small Business. "We're pleased to partner with TELUS for our third year of The Challenge to provide a platform for entrepreneurs to share their business learnings with the small business community and help them overcome their challenges."

Canadians and fellow small business owners can continue to follow the small business conversation on Twitter via @TELUSBusiness and @GlobeSmallBiz, and on Facebook at Facebook.com/TELUSBusiness.

About TELUS

TELUS (TSX: T, NYSE: TU) is a leading national telecommunications company in Canada, with $11.2 billion of annual revenue and 13.2 million customer connections, including 7.7 million wireless subscribers, 3.3 million wireline network access lines, 1.4 million Internet subscribers and 743,000 TELUS TV customers. Led since 2000 by President and CEO, Darren Entwistle, TELUS provides a wide range of communications products and services, including wireless, data, Internet protocol (IP), voice, television, entertainment and video.

In support of our philosophy to give where we live, TELUS, our team members and retirees have contributed more than $300 million to charitable and not-for-profit organizations and volunteered 4.8 million hours of service to local communities since 2000. Fourteen TELUS Community Boards lead TELUS' local philanthropic initiatives. TELUS was honoured to be named the most outstanding philanthropic corporation globally for 2010 by the Association of Fundraising Professionals, becoming the first Canadian company to receive this prestigious international recognition.

For more information about TELUS, please visit telus.com.

About The Globe and Mail

The Globe and Mail, through its newspaper, magazine, online and mobile platforms, is Canada's foremost news media company. Each day, The Globe leads the national discussion by engaging Canadians in its award-winning coverage and analysis of news, politics, business and lifestyle. The Globe and Mail, Canada's national newspaper, founded in 1844, Report on Business, Canada's most influential business magazine, and globeandmail.com, the newspaper's online and mobile media hub, reach a combined 6.3 million readers every month. The Globe has received numerous journalism awards, including the international 2011 prize for General Excellence in Journalism from the Online News Associations, nine Michener Awards for Public Service Journalism, and more National Newspaper Awards than any other newspaper in Canada. The Globe and Mail is 85% owned by Woodbridge, the investment arm of the Thomson family, and Bell Canada (15%).

Image with caption: "Small Calgary Business Wins Big Challenge. Livestock Water Recycling is taking home a $100,000 small business grant after winning the TELUS and The Globe and Mail's small business contest. Shown here: Ross Thurston, president of Livestock Water Recycling shows his less-than-glamorous but important work of cleaning livestock manure. (CNW Group/TELUS Corporation)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130926_C4076_PHOTO_EN_31276.jpg

SOURCE: TELUS Corporation

For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:

Elisabeth Napolano
TELUS Media Relations
416-906-9830 
[email protected]