Centre de developpement bioalimentaire du Quebec Receives $878,670 From Government of Canada

LA POCATIÈRE, QUEBEC--(Marketwire - March 15, 2011) - Bernard Généreux, Member of Parliament for Montmagny–L'Islet–Kamouraska–Rivière-du-Loup, today announced, on behalf of the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of State for Canada Economic Development, $878,670 in non-repayable funding to the Centre de développement bioalimentaire du Québec (CDBQ). Awarded under the Business and Regional Growth program, this financial assistance will enable CDBQ to acquire new equipment and renovate the last unfitted-out space in the experimental farm ceded to it in 1997 by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

"Thanks to its technological expertise, leading-edge equipment and modern research and development facilities, the Centre is working to raise the standard of agri-food processing in the Bas-Saint-Laurent. The Government of Canada proudly endorses this initiative," stated MP Généreux.

These new acquisitions will allow CDBQ to offer SMEs a fuller range of services. Furthermore, whether in the startup or growth phase, enterprises will be able to use this equipment to strength their new product development capacity. Adding equipment to two of the incubator's pilot plants will make them more versatile for agri-food companies. The Centre will have more resources to help innovative companies improve their competitiveness and find solutions to the technological challenges they face.

The project will also help to complete major renovations to the former experimental farm and set up modern laboratories and acquire the necessary equipment to be able to accommodate three new companies. The CDBQ estimates that the project will create two jobs within the organization.

The Business and Regional Growth program reinforces the conditions conducive to the sustainable development of Quebec's regions and SMEs. It seeks to help enterprises improve their performance, become more competitive and engage in more innovation. It also supports the transfer of technology and research outputs to enterprises. Lastly, it aims to create the right conditions to attract foreign investment and international organizations.

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