News Release

BELLEDUNE (CNB) – Federal and provincial representatives joined officials at the Belledune Port Authority today to announce funding for a modular component fabrication facility.

Premier David Alward and Tilly O'Neill-Gordon, MP for Miramichi, announced more than $10 million toward the new facility. The project is valued at more than $13 million.

"This investment will help create jobs and grow the economy in northern New Brunswick," said Alward. "With the port's infrastructure and the availability of qualified labour in the region, northern New Brunswick is poised for economic growth and we want to ensure that all the tools are in place to facilitate development and attract investment to the region."

"The economic growth of regions like northern New Brunswick is a key priority for our government in our efforts to create jobs and build prosperity for Canadians,” said O'Neill-Gordon. “Investments such as this one help our government create and maintain economic growth now and for years to come. The Belledune modular component fabrication facility will help to position Belledune as a leading centre in the metal sector."

O'Neill-Gordon spoke on behalf of National Revenue Minister Keith Ashfield, who is also minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) and minister for the Atlantic Gateway.

"The worldwide demand for low-cost modular fabrication locations adjacent to ice-free, deep-water, ports with heavy lift capacity is increasing," said Rayburn Doucett, chief executive officer of the Belledune Port Authority. "The Port of Belledune is now the solution that can assist in all sectors of industry. New Brunswick has the labour, the training support for growth, the facilities and the infrastructure ideal for global leaders. This facility complements the RoRo and Barge terminal projects currently underway under the Infrastructure Stimulus Program. The location makes this land ideal for service bays, storage, trans-shipments and assembly operations complementary to shipping."

The project consists of the development of a Module Component Fabrication Facility at the port. It includes the construction of a 3,600-square-metre (40,000-sq.-ft.) fabrication facility and assembly area to accommodate very large modular units, as well as the purchase of the former Bennett Environmental Inc. building (8,100 square metres, or 90,000 sq. ft), which will be used as a pipe fabrication shop and for offices.

The provincial government is providing $7 million in support to the project. ACOA is providing a repayable contribution of $3.2 million through its Business Development Program, which will support the cost of the new building and site development. ACOA has also invested $187,500 under the program for preliminary and detailed designs for a proposed modular fabrication facility.