More than $600,000 helps West Prince companies compete

Five West Prince companies will share in more than $600,000 in federal government money to help them compete in the competitive global economy. Through its Business Development Program, ACOA is providing repayable support for the following projects:

• $329,372 for Royal Star Foods to expand cold storage capacity for its seafood products, with full packing and sealing capability onsite to control and grow exports.

• $117,968 for Myers Welding to expand its existing manufacturing facility and purchase equipment to meet increased demand for its fabricated metal aquaculture products.

• $75,750 for W.P. Griffin to install packaging equipment for newly developed specialty potato products and $44,228 to launch and promote the new line of products to domestic and export markets.

• $50,000 for North Atlantic Organics to install new equipment to expand its animal supplement and fertilizer operation.

• $33,000 for Acadian Machine Works Ltd. to develop and market a quick-attaching, front-mounting blueberry harvesting system. The innovation is especially useful for wild blueberry producers not looking to purchase largescale equipment.

“With this latest phase at Royal Star, we will be able to pack and seal full containers on site, which means that we can better meet the demands of our growing market, work directly with customers, and have greater control over our exports,” said Francis Morrissey, CEO, Royal Star Foods. Founded in 2006, Royal Star Foods produces traditional and value-added lobster, tuna, mackerel, clams, crab and herring products. The company began adding cold storage capacity in 2012.

Royal Star currently employs 241 people in western P.E.I.