Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation
October 16, 2017
Provincial Government Supporting Small Business in the Province
As part of Small Business Week in the province, the Honourable Christopher Mitchelmore, Minister of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation, today toured Island Propane Ltd. in Mount Pearl, a successful small business operating in the manufacturing/processing sector and providing employment for five people.
The Department of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation has provided over $300,000 to Island Propane since 2016. This includes a $280,000 repayable loan through Business Investment Program and a $27,320 grant through the Business Development Support Program. This investment will allow Island Propane to grow its business by establishing distributorship agreements with new retail operators and enhanced marketing of its product.
Island Propane was incorporated in April 2015. At its new facility in Mount Pearl it refurbishes and distributes domestic propane tanks to agents and distributers across the island portion of the province under the Rapid Gaz Logo. The model involves the exchange of domestic 20-pound propane tanks at gas stations and other retail outlets whereby the customer brings an empty tank to the retail location and exchanges it for a full tank. Empty tanks are retrieved from the distributors and returned to the company’s Mount Pearl facility where each tank is inspected, power washed and/or sandblasted, repainted, re-labelled, leak-tested, re-valved (if necessary), and refilled before being returned to service.
The company also offers refurbishing of propane cylinders for the general public as well as drop off sites for expired and discarded propane cylinders, thus diverting them from landfills.
The company has over 80 clients throughout the province.
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“Island Propane is providing an alternative to customers in the purchase and filling of propane tanks, and is the only company in the province refurbishing 20-pound propane tanks. Our department was pleased to support the company in its efforts to set up in Mount Pearl and to expand further, providing employment opportunities in the area. Through the Cabinet Committee on Jobs, our government will continue to pursue opportunities to create economic growth in all areas of the province.”
Honourable Christopher Mitchelmore
Minister of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation
“With 50,000 to 60,000 20-pound propane cylinders in circulation in the exchange program that were previously being shipped out of province for refurbishing, this new facility allows Island Propane to offer employment and use local suppliers. As a local company we are thankful for the continued support and cooperation of the Provincial Government for assisting us in the set up and continued growth of Island Propane Ltd.”
Sean Kearsey
Island Propane
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Media contacts
Eric Humber
Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation
709-729-4819, 725-9655
erichumber@gov.nl.ca
Sean Kearsey
Island Propane Ltd.
709-364-4818
skearsey@newlaboxygen.com
2017 10 16 11:50 a.m.