News Release

DIEPPE (GNB) – The provincial and federal governments will invest more than $800,000 in Expansion Dieppe to undertake a productivity and continuous improvement initiative for companies in processing and manufacturing.

“Jobs and the economy are our number one priority,” said Treasury Board President Roger Melanson. “Our government’s investment in this great initiative will assist participating businesses in the manufacturing and processing sectors to create new opportunities, increase productivity and competitiveness on the global markets.”

Melanson spoke on behalf of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour Minister Donald Arseneault, who is also minister responsible for the Regional Development Corporation.

“Today's investment will help boost the productivity of local small- and medium-sized enterprises by raising the rate of adoption of continuous improvement initiatives and supports their implementation of a lean culture,” said Moncton-Riverview-Dieppe MP Ginette Petitpas Taylor. “This project is a great opportunity for participating businesses to explore ways of improving their processes, practices and operating methods.”

Petitpas Taylor attended the event for the federal Innovation, Science and Economic Development Minister Navdeep Bains, who is also minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA).

The project involves introducing and implementing continuous improvement and productivity enhancement principles to owners, leaders and employees of participating businesses in the manufacturing and processing sectors.

“About 80 per cent of all new jobs are created by existing businesses,” said Allen Byrns, president of Expansion Dieppe. “We want to ensure their growth by providing them knowledge on productivity and innovation. Also, investing in human capital with a technical background will allow the companies to reap the maximum benefits when optimizing productivity and innovation.”

The initiative will focus on transferring knowledge effectively and sustainably so as to enable businesses to implement a continuous improvement culture during the long term.

The provincial government is contributing $357,342, while the federal government is providing $446,678 through ACOA’s Business Development Program.

Expansion Dieppe is the agency responsible for economic development for the City of Dieppe. The agency works with entrepreneurs and land developers by supporting them in their decision-making. As a value-added partner, the group collaborates with an extensive network of regulatory and economic development stakeholders and agencies to strengthen and diversify the economy of the region.