The Government of Canada is providing $400,000 to upgrade and modernize the Newfoundland Feed Grains Society facility in the Town of Stephenville. The funding comes from the Community Adjustment Fund (CAF) – a key economic stimulus initiative under the Government of Canada’s Economic Action Plan.

The announcement was made today by Senator Ethel Cochrane on behalf of the Honourable Keith Ashfield, Minister of National Revenue, Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway. The Community Adjustment Fund is administered in Atlantic Canada by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.

“The CAF program is specifically designed to help communities build through the current economic downturn by seizing new and sustainable development opportunities,” said Senator Cochrane. “This project has significant support from the farming industry and is expected to have a positive and lasting impact on the Stephenville area. This project will help generate immediate local economic activity by supporting direct and indirect employment opportunities during the installation of the new equipment.”

The upgrading and modernization of the facility will allow the Society to achieve important efficiencies in operations. The key upgrades include the installation of new storage tanks and a ship unloader and conveyor system. The equipment and process improvements will enhance quality control of the stored grains, will minimize the risks of spoilage that can be caused by moisture being absorbed by the grains during the unloading process, and will increase capacity and the efficiency of the operations.

The Newfoundland Feed Grains Society Inc. was incorporated in July, 1999, as a not for profit corporation to promote the development of the grain elevator facilities in Stephenville and the economic interests of all the members by using their united efforts to procure, transport, store, process, and distribute grains, corn, soya and all forms of livestock feeds. The members are engaged in the dairy and poultry industries.

For information on Canada's Economic Action Plan, please visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.

FOR BROADCAST USE:

The Government of Canada will provide $400,000 to upgrade and modernize the Newfoundland Feed Grains Society facility in the Town of Stephenville. The funding comes from the Community Adjustment Fund (CAF) – a key economic stimulus initiative under the Government of Canada’s Economic Action Plan.

The Society plans to upgrade and modernize the facility in Stephenville and to achieve efficiencies in operations. The equipment and process improvements will enhance quality control of the stored grains, will minimize the risks of spoilage that can be caused by moisture being absorbed by the grains during the existing unloading process, and will increase capacity and the efficiency of the operations.

The funding was announced this morning by Senator Ethel Cochrane on behalf of the Honourable Keith Ashfield, Minister of National Revenue, Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway. The Community Adjustment Fund is administered in Atlantic Canada by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.

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INFORMATION:

Doug Burgess 
Director, Public Affairs, 
ACOA
709-772-2935