Granit National Inc. Receives Funding from the Government of Canada

SAINT-ÉPHREM-DE-BEAUCE, QUEBEC--(Marketwire - Sept. 12, 2012) - Acting on behalf of the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Communities and Infrastructure and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, the Honourable Maxime Bernier, Minister of State (Small Business and Tourism), today announced funding for the firm Granit National Inc. to purchase leading-edge equipment.

"Our government is committed to helping Quebec enterprises grow so that they can create more jobs. Investments such as the one we are making in Granit National promote productivity in Canadian companies and the economic competitiveness of the country," said Mr. Bernier.

Granit National Inc. specializes in the manufacture of granite, marble and quartz countertops. By equipping itself with a Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machining centre for polishing the solid surface countertops, the firm is enhancing its technological level, thereby boosting its productivity gains and making the way for the creation of three new jobs. With this project, Granit National is now better equipped to meet growing demand for its products and, by the same token, helping stimulate economic activity in the region.

About the Temporary Initiative for the Strengthening of Quebec's Forest Economies (TISQFE)

This $87,500 in repayable funding has been awarded through Canada Economic Development's Temporary Initiative for the Strengthening of Quebec's Forest Economies (TISQFE).

The TISQFE was brought into force in June 2010 to help communities affected by the forestry crisis diversify their economies in order to ensure their growth and create and maintain employment. The initiative's goal is also to support secondary and tertiary wood processing projects in these communities.

This measure is one of several put in place by the Government of Canada to counteract the effects of the forest crisis. Others include the Community Adjustment Fund, with its $1 billion budget over two years to mitigate the impact of the crisis, the $1 billion granted to the Pulp and Paper Green Transformation Program to help enterprises carry out environmentally-friendly projects and the $238 million invested, in collaboration with the Government of Quebec, for silvicultural work and the maintenance of multi-use forest roads. Workers have also received their fair share of support, with the Government of Canada introducing some of the most generous measures in history to help them through the economic crisis.

Keep up with the latest news from Canada Economic Development by visiting www.dec-ced.gc.ca or subscribing to @CanEconDev on Twitter.