Government�s Market Development Program Helps Burin Peninsula Companies

Companies on the Burin Peninsula are making use of government�s Business and Market Development Program (BMDP). BMDP, a program of the Department of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development, provides small sums of strategically-aimed funding to help companies to pursue new markets and develop new business ideas.

South Coast Aquaculture Ltd. of Little Bay, Fortune Bay, has been approved for $6,219 from BMDP to investigate new skills and technologies in mussel growing and harvesting in Ireland and Scotland. The U.S. market for mussels is expanding and there is a need to increase production capacities while maintaining quality. The company hopes to create two new jobs as a result of this initiative and increase hours of work for production employees.

Dynamic Air Shelters Ltd. of Grand Bank has received $12,500 to facilitate production efficiencies at a second facility in Grand Bank. It has also received $7,578 for skills transfer and training on new equipment. Dynamic Air Shelters manufactures inflatable shelters for industrial use. The Alberta company has closed its production facilities in Calgary and moved its equipment to a second facility in Grand Bank because of the superior quality of the local workforce. The company currently provides 35 jobs in its two Grand Bank facilities and has contracts with U.S. medical supply firms, and oil companies in the U.S. and Canada.

�We are committed to helping businesses and non-profit economic development groups in all parts of the province. We believe in helping Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to help themselves. No other economic development funding agency in this province has as many rural offices and staff dedicated to the pursuit of economic development of this province,� said the Honourable Trevor Taylor, Minister of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development.

Lighthouse Productions of Grand Bank has received $5,580 to establish a market presence for the Grand Bank Regional Theatre Festival and increase ticket sales. The festival is Lighthouse Productions main product and provides 21 full-time seasonal jobs.

The Business and Market Development Program is designed to provide new entrepreneurs and expanding small businesses with funding to help them acquire the necessary expertise to pursue new business ideas and new markets for their products or services. The program is intended to support new growth opportunities in the economy, such as value-added manufacturing activities and export-oriented opportunities.

-30-