Asbestos Industrial Park and Mont-Ham Regional Park Modernizing Thanks to Support from the Government of Canada

ASBESTOS, QUEBEC--(Marketwired - June 4, 2015) - Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED)

The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, announces that the Town of Asbestos and the Regional County Municipality (RCM) of Les Sources are being granted funding to vitalize the RCM community and diversify the local economy.

This support is being awarded in the form of two non-repayable contributions totalling $1,450,000 through the CED Quebec Economic Development Program's Canadian Initiative for the Economic Diversification of Communities Reliant on Chrysotile.

The Minister also announced the government's intention to provide funding for the construction of a natural gas pipeline to serve the industrial park in the Town of Asbestos.

Quick facts

• The Town of Asbestos will receive $1,170,000 in funding for the construction of a new road to allow for the expansion of its industrial park. Upon completion of the project, at least four new sites will be available to SMEs in the metal processing sector. The work also calls for the installation of related infrastructure.
• A contribution of $280,000 is being granted for the execution of renovation and construction work on the Mont-Ham Regional Park reception pavilion, mainly in relation to the building's foundation, superstructure, roof and interior fittings.
• These upgrades are aimed at addressing the increase in visitor traffic to the regional park and at better accommodating users of the site, thereby generating positive spinoffs for the local and regional tourism industry, a key sector for the economic vitality of the Les Sources RCM.
• The gas pipeline project, which is contingent on the securing of the necessary approvals, would allow the 25 enterprises currently operating in the industrial park to convert to natural gas in 2016-2017 and could potentially attract new businesses to the site.
• As well as promoting new investment in the region, these projects are expected to lead to the creation of a number of new jobs.
• The Canadian Initiative for the Economic Diversification of Communities Reliant on Chrysotile seeks to support projects linked with the economic diversification of the Les Appalaches and Les Sources RCMs that have the potential to stimulate short- and long-term job creation.

Quotes

"To maintain the pace of growth of the Canadian economy, as we promised to do, our government has made the strategic decision to support projects that, like the construction of a natural gas pipeline, expansion of the industrial park in the Town of Asbestos and renovation of the reception pavilion at Mont-Ham Regional Park, will help diversify the industrial fabric of the regions and create a new dynamic for regional development."

Denis Lebel, Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec

"Asbestos Industrial Park is currently unable to house any new businesses. Thanks to the financial assistance announced today, our project to expand the park by 10% will help strengthen and diversify the local economy by bringing in new players. Moreover, modernizing the reception pavilion at Mont-Ham Regional Park will promote greater use of the site and improve visitor experience, thereby helping to position the park as one of the best."

Hugues Grimard, Prefect of the Les Sources RCM and Mayor of the Town of Asbestos

Related links
Town of Asbestos Website (in French only): http://ville.asbestos.qc.ca/

Les Sources RCM Website (in French only): http://www.mrcdessources.com/

Mont-Ham Regional Park Website (in French only): http://montham.ca/

News release on the launch of the Canadian Initiative for the Economic Diversification of Communities Reliant on Chrysotile

Stay connected

Follow CED on Twitter @CanEconDev