August 7, 2019 - Dartmouth, NS - Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
Canada's steel and aluminum sectors are key contributors to the Canadian economy, providing well-paying jobs in regions across Canada. Helping the steel and aluminum sector modernize and adopt advanced manufacturing techniques and technologies enhances their productivity, competitiveness and helps to maintain and create skilled jobs.
Today, Darren Fisher, Member of Parliament for Dartmouth - Cole Harbour, on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), announced a non-repayable contribution of $550,000 to Cherubini Metal Works Limited in Dartmouth.
With this funding, Cherubini Metal Works will expand its current facilities and purchase new equipment for the fabrication of bridges and structural steel. The new automated equipment will help the company increase productivity, improve air quality and gain energy efficiencies. The project will result in the creation of 20 or more full-time jobs.
The funding is being provided under the Regional Economic Growth through Innovation (REGI) Steel and Aluminum Initiative, announced in March 2019. Delivered by Canada's regional development agencies, the funding provides targeted support to Canadian small and medium-sized businesses in the steel, aluminum and manufacturing sectors through non-repayable contributions for projects to enhance productivity, increase competitiveness by adopting new innovative technologies, and create more highly skilled jobs.
Canada's steel and aluminum sector is an important contributor to our economy and to our manufacturing supply chains, providing thousands of Canadians with good middle-class jobs. This funding initiative provides small and medium-sized businesses with consistent support across all regions of Canada, while allowing the assistance to be tailored to meet regional needs.
Quotes
"Our government supports the hard-working steel and aluminum workers and companies that are important to regional economies across Canada. Our investments to support small and medium-sized producers and users of steel and aluminum will help these businesses innovate to drive productivity, scale up and expand into new markets to create good middle-class jobs."
- The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for ACOA
"The small and medium-sized businesses in our steel and aluminum industries are important contributors to the economic vitality of communities across the country. Small and medium-sized businesses are the backbone of our economy; by investing in their success, we are investing in the success of all Canadians."
- The Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Small Business and Export Promotion
"The Government of Canada is committed to working with industry leaders like Dartmouth's Cherubini Metal Works, so they can provide quality jobs, innovate, grow and anchor our country's future economic growth. We know that Atlantic Canada must ramp up its adoption of advanced manufacturing practices to remain competitive, and investments like this will ensure Atlantic Canada's success in the steel and aluminum sector."
- Darren Fisher, Member of Parliament for Dartmouth - Cole Harbour
"This investment provides us with the opportunity to compete globally while retaining and creating quality, skilled labour jobs in Atlantic Canada. The economic spin off for our region will be substantial with the hiring of additional full-time employees."
- Michael Gasparetto, Special Projects Manager, Cherubini Metal Works
Quick facts
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Cherubini is the primary bridgework and heavy civil structural fabricator in Atlantic Canada.
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This project builds on the objectives of the Government of Canada's Accelerated Growth Service, which supports high growth firms in areas such as export, innovation, advanced processes and skill development to build a more competitive Atlantic Canada.
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The Government of Canada, through ACOA, is committed to helping Atlantic Canadian manufacturers integrate new, innovative technologies into their traditional practices. ACOA's Advanced Manufacturing Technology Assessments are a new initiative designed to help manufacturers looking for innovative solutions to increase their efficiency, productivity and competitiveness.
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Regional development agencies are one of Canada's four flagship platforms supporting innovation, along with the Industrial Research Assistance Program, the Strategic Innovation Fund and the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service.
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The Regional Economic Growth through Innovation program builds on the objectives of the Innovation and Skills Plan by providing regionally tailored, nationally consistent support for business productivity and scale-up and by helping enhance regional technology clusters and innovation ecosystems.
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In 2018, Canada's steel and aluminum industry employed more than 33,500 Canadians and contributed $8.9 billion to the value of Canada's goods produced and services provided.
