Local Clair business will improve its productivity and efficiency thanks to Government support

January 16, 2015--Clair, NB-Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)

Thanks to investments from the Government of Canada and the Province of New Brunswick, Fiready Inc. will improve its productivity by introducing state-of-the-art equipment.

The Honourable Bernard Valcourt, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development and Member of Parliament for Madawaska-Restigouche and the Honourable Francine Landry, Minister of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour and Minister responsible for La Francophonie joined representatives from Fiready Inc. for today's announcement.

The project consists of purchasing and installing a biomass boiler. This state-of-the-art equipment will increase the operation's productivity by maximizing the plant's drying capability. It is expected that this new technology will result in an increase in sales for the business.

The Government of Canada, through ACOA's Business Development Program is providing a $350,000 repayable contribution to the modernization project. The Province of New Brunswick is contributing $140,000 to the project. The business is investing $10,000 and has the support of the Business Development Bank of Canada for a loan in the amount of $200,000.

Quick Facts:

  • Fiready Inc. was founded in 1999 and makes dried, packaged firewood for the New England market and other eastern U.S. states.
  • The family business has been operating in the forestry industry since 1882.
  • The company currently exports between 40% and 50% of its total production to the United States and has started to develop the Eastern Canadian market and that of the French islands of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon.
  • Fiready employs around 15 people on a full-time basis annually.

Quotes:

"Our Government's investment will help Fiready Inc. expand its business, enhance its productivity and efficiency and diversify its markets. This project, which also makes better use of biomass, will help this rural New Brunswick company to grow and further contribute to our region's economy. "

- The Honourable Bernard Valcourt, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development and Member of Parliament for Madawaska-Restigouche

"We are proud to support Fiready and its staff as they work to become more competitive in the export market. Smart investments such as this demonstrate our commitment to moving New Brunswick forward. The success of our small and medium-sized enterprises strengthens our economy."

- The Honourable Francine Landry, Minister of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour and Minister responsible for La Francophonie on behalf of Hon. Rick Doucet, Minister of Economic Development and Hon. Victor Boudreau, Minister responsible for the Regional Development Corporation

"The mission of Fiready Inc. is to provide firewood that surpasses the customer's expectations, with a value-added product that is kiln-dried and packaged. Strong demand exceeds our full production capacity. At a time when we are looking to meet the increase in client demand, this project will allow us to increase productivity substantially. We would like to thank the Government of Canada and the Government of New Brunswick for their support and trust."

- Peter & Marielle Clair, President & Director of Sales, Fiready Inc.

Associated Links:

ACOA
Canada's Economic Action Plan
Fiready

Contacts:

Kelsie Corey
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of State (ACOA), the Honourable Rob Moore
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
613-941-7241

Ted Parisé
Senior Communications Officer
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
506-260-7020

Elaine Bell
Communications Director
Economic Development/ Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries
506-453-8607

Marielle Clair
Director of Sales and Co-owner
Fiready Inc.
506-992-2221

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