2.4 Million In Expansion Grants Awarded to Four Northwest New Brunswick Companies

Four companies in the Saint John Valley are getting a boost from the Canadian and New Brunswick governments to help create 20 jobs in northwestern New Brunswick. 

The announcement was made today at the JMN Enterprises wood product manufacturing facility in Saint-François de Madawaska. The company is increasing its workforce by 13 employees with the help of investments from the federal and provincial governments.

JMN is a family-owned company that produces products such as cutting boards, butchers blocks, service trays, fence posts, and components of furniture and cabinets.

The provincial government is providing the company a $307,427 non-repayable grant through Opportunities NB and the Regional Development Corporation’s Northern New Brunswick Economic Development and Innovation Fund. The new investment will help the company take on a multi-million dollar contract.

Three other companies are also expanding with government support.

Boise Cascade-Alljoist, a wood products company in St. Jacques, will receive a $229,650 non-repayable grant from Opportunities NB and the Northern New Brunswick Economic Development and Innovation Fund. The grant will assist the company in purchasing an automated assembly system and will allow the company to increase its production capacity, quality, export sales, and employee safety.

Fiready, a company which produces kiln-dried hardwood firewood products in Clair, will receive a $96,250 non-repayable grant from Opportunities NB and the Northern New Brunswick Economic Development and Innovation Fund. The grant will help the company buy equipment to expand and improve its operations, creating three new full-time jobs.

Water Blasting & Vacuum Services, in Edmundston, will receive a $200,000 non-repayable grant from Opportunities NB and the Northern New Brunswick Economic Development and Innovation Fund. The company specializes in industrial cleaning services for equipment used in the pulp and paper industry and public work departments. The grant will help with the purchase of new equipment and a high- pressure washer that will better serve their industrial customers, increase sales, productivity, and safety, creating four new jobs.

The federal government is providing repayable contributions of more than $1.6 million to the four projects through ACOA’s Business Development Program.

The four companies combined employ more than 150 people in the largely rural area.