Marketing support provided to Internet-based naval architect company

A Conception Bay South company of naval architects has received funding from the provincial government to assist its marketing efforts. Genoa Design International of Kelligrews has received $25,000 from the Department of Industry, Trade and Rural Development to help develop new markets for the company�s web-based ship design services.

"By offering ship design and drafting services over the Internet, Genoa Design has broken the geographic barriers that have traditionally limited the export of marine designs from this province," says Kelvin Parsons, Minister of Industry, Trade and Rural Development. "But while the company is able to offer its services at a distance, promotion of its products in major markets in the United States is still a vital necessity. This funding will help offset these costs."

Genoa Design International was started in 2000 by former Canadian Navy officer and naval architect Leonard Pecore and has 12 employees. The company uses computer assisted design and development (CADD) technology to design ships and produce blueprints and three-dimensional drawings that can be viewed and downloaded by clients from the company�s website. Projects the company has participated in include a life rescue vessel, a Canadian Coastguard standby vessel, a 1,000 person passenger ferry, various fishing boats, a replica of the fifteenth century sailing ship, the Matthew, now moored at Bonavista, and the construction of three new Kennedy Class ferry boats for the Staten Island run in New York.

"In our Renewal Strategy for Jobs and Growth, we targeted the manufacturing and information technology industries as opportunities for economic growth, especially in export markets. Genoa Design is one of the many leading-edge firms in Newfoundland and Labrador today that are making their mark on the world stage with innovative and competitive products and services. Companies like Genoa are truly making it happen throughout Newfoundland and Labrador," said Minister Parsons.

The marketing support to Genoa is being provided under the department�s Business and Market Development Program. This program provides funding to new entrepreneurs and expanding small businesses to help them acquire the necessary expertise to pursue new business ideas and markets in new growth areas of the economy. Government funding must be matched by an equal amount provided by the business.

Media contact: Clifford Grinling, ITRD, (709) 729-7066

2003 01 21                                        12:20 p.m.