August 1, 2019 - Perth-Andover, NB - Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
Investing in innovation helps businesses grow and export to new markets, bringing wealth to Atlantic Canadian communities. Businesses that innovate to remain competitive in a global marketplace also create long-term economic prosperity and well-paying jobs in the region.
Atlantic Potato Distributors will soon be increasing its exports to clients in the United States and beyond. Thanks to assistance from the Government of Canada, Atlantic Potato will expand its plant and add new equipment to automate the loading of bagged potatoes onto pallets. The Government of Canada, through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), is providing a repayable contribution of $952,500 for this project, while the Province of New Brunswick contributed $178,610.
TJ Harvey, Member of Parliament for Tobique-Mactaquac, on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible ACOA, along with the Honourable Mary Wilson, Minister of Economic Development and Small Business and Minister responsible for Opportunities NB, made the announcement today.
The Government of Canada is making smart investments that will create good, middle-class jobs in our country. It is helping small and medium-sized businesses to start-up, expand or modernize and supporting not-for-profit organizations to fuel business growth. Support for this project is one way the Government of Canada is working to achieve its Atlantic Growth Strategy outcome of long-term economic prosperity in the region.
Quotes
"The Government of Canada is committed to helping grow the Atlantic Canadian economy through strategic investments in companies like Atlantic Potato Distributors. Providing support for companies to increase their ability to export is one of the many ways our government is delivering on the Atlantic Growth Strategy, a pan-Atlantic plan focused on creating long-term economic prosperity in this region."
- The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for ACOA
"Atlantic Potato Distributors is a well-established family owned business and an important employer in our region. By supporting its efforts to expand its export capacity, our government is enabling Atlantic Potato Distributors to create wealth in Atlantic Canada and support well-paying jobs for the community of Perth-Andover."
- TJ Harvey, Member of Parliament for Tobique-Mactaquac
"Our government is focused on energizing the private sector and that includes supporting locally owned companies as they expand into new markets. Atlantic Potato Distributors is an excellent example of the kind of success our small and medium-sized enterprises can achieve when they have the right kind of support and business conditions to help them compete in global markets."
- The Honourable Mary Wilson, Minister of Economic Development and Small Business and Minister responsible for Opportunities NB
"Since 1993 we have gradually grown each year, investing in improving efficiencies with automated processes. Each expansion has brought new business, creating employment in New Brunswick. As a company within a recognized sector of labour shortages, we have identified areas that can be improved upon with the assistance of ACOA & ONB, which will increase efficiencies by 20 per cent, create more skilled positions and alleviate labour shortages."
- Mark Hanscome, President, Atlantic Potato Distributors
Quick facts
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The Government of Canada invested $952,500 in this project through ACOA's Business Development Program (BDP), while the Province of New Brunswick contributed $178,610.
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The BDP primarily assists Atlantic Canadian entrepreneurs who want to start a business, increase productivity or improve operations.
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The Business Development Program continues to build on the objectives of the Innovation and Skills Plan, a multi-year strategy to create well-paying jobs for the middle class and those working hard to join it.
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Atlantic Potato Distributors is a family owned and operated business. Located in Perth-Andover, New Brunswick, the company washes, grades, and packs potatoes for customers in Canada and the United States.
Contacts
Bronwen Mosher
Senior Communications Officer
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
506-292-7524
Mary-Anne Hurley-Corbyn
Director of Communications
Opportunities NB
506-457-4996
Rachel Durepos
Senior Account Manager/Executive Assistant to Mark Hanscome
Atlantic Potato Distributors
506-273-6501
