Booming Activity in Labrador West Continues to Lead to Benefits for Small Business

Prospects for small businesses in Labrador West continue to grow as they take advantage of opportunities attached to some of the world’s largest iron ore deposits. Labrador Rewinding, supported by a $160,000 investment from the Provincial Government, is one such company that is strengthening its workforce to accommodate the rising demand for its services.

“It is an exciting time for small businesses in Labrador West as they capitalize on the booming mining activity in the area,” said the Honourable Susan Sullivan, Minister of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development. “Businesses such as Labrador Rewinding are increasingly securing new business opportunities and experiencing demand for their services. As a government, we are pleased to support small businesses to have the workforce in place to successfully realize these opportunities and ultimately become more profitable.”

Labrador Rewinding will use the Provincial Government investment to enable existing employees to access skills training and improve its workforce. In addition to capitalizing on the projected growth of the local market, the company will use its highly-skilled workforce to continue to promote the company in the emerging North Africa market.

“I am very pleased that our government continues to support small business in Labrador West,” said Jim Baker, MHA for Labrador West. “Investments such as this in Labrador Rewinding help to ensure that our local small business operators have the competitive edge to take advantage of the business opportunities created by the booming mining industry in Labrador West."

Based in Wabush, the company is the only motor overhaul shop in western Labrador. In operation since 1994, the company specializes in maintaining, repairing, and refurbishing industrial motors, pumps, welding machines, generators, and alternators for the national mining industry.

“The current influx of work from the mining industries has created the interest to expand Labrador Rewinding, as well as offer new services to both existing and potential clients,” said Jeannot Gamache, Owner, Labrador Rewinding. “One of our upcoming projects is to develop an operation plan for the complete overhaul of a range of alternators and wheel motors. Our goal is to keep this work local that is currently being sent outside the province.”

This initiative was funded through the Workplace Skills Enhancement Program. Administered by the Department of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development, the program helps small and medium-sized enterprises in strategic sectors acquire and increase the skills of employees to enhance productivity and global competitiveness. It is funded by the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Labour Market Agreement and the Strategic Training and Transition Fund.

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2011 05 17                                                                             11:25 a.m.