ATHOLVILLE (GNB) – The provincial government is investing up to $360,000 in Zenabis, a medical cannabis producer based in Atholville, to help them create more jobs.
“Your government understands the importance of job growth and creation in all parts of New Brunswick, including in the Restigouche region,” said Labour, Employment and Population Growth Minister Gilles LePage. “We are pleased to offer continued support to companies like Zenabis, which is working hard to have trained, professional and skilled staff in place as we approach the legalization of cannabis across the country.”
Through the Workforce Expansion Program, the Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour will provide up to $360,000 in financial support to allow the company to hire additional staff, including production line workers, quality assurance associates, sanitation technicians, and analytical chemists.
“We are thrilled to have the Government of New Brunswick’s ongoing support to expand our workforce in Atholville,” said John Kondrosky, chief operating officer of Zenabis. “New Brunswick is leading the way in supporting the development of this industry, and we are optimistic about the prospects for job creation and value-added production.”
Zenabis recently partnered with the Collège communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick to offer a 20-week cannabis cultivation program at the Campbellton campus. The program, which is offered in French, is currently underway and was designed to meet the needs of the industry by focusing on the development of basic employability skills. The graduates will become technicians in cannabis production.
In 2016, Opportunities NB and the Regional Development Corporation, through the Northern New Brunswick Economic Development and Innovation Fund, each invested $2 million, for a total investment of $4 million, to help the company open its doors in Atholville.
14-08-18