Photo: Juan Andres Camus, Pembroke MDF Owner and Board Member; Juan Obach, Board Chairman and Owner; Cheryl Gallant, MP; Hon Gary Goodyear, Minister of State for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario; Felix Bacigalupo, Board Member and Owner; Jose Kofman, President Clarion Industries
Laurentian Valley, Ontario – Cheryl Gallant, MP Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke is pleased to confirm the Federal Conservative Government is providing a repayable contribution of up to 3 million dollars to facilitate the re-opening of Pembroke MDF Plant Inc., a medium-density fibreboard manufacturing facility. When operating at full capacity in 2015, this plant will employ 160 workers.
“It is my pleasure to publically thank the owners of the fibreboard plant, Juan Obach, Juan Andres Camus and Felix Bacigalupo, for their confidence in our local community. When the plant closed down in 2008 as a result of the global recession, the future was uncertain. Fortunately for the Upper Ottawa Valley, these gentlemen never lost faith in our community,” stated Cheryl Gallant, MP.
“The Pembroke MDF plant has played an important role in our community over the years in terms of producing quality materials and employment. When the plant closed back in November 2008, the impact was felt deeply by our community.”
“But today, we are standing here in a much happier place. I am certain that I am not alone in being excited to see the lights turned back on and the doors to this facility reopened,” remarked Cheryl Gallant, MP.
In addition to the $3 million repayable contribution from the Federal Government, $1.5 million will come from the Eastern Ontario Development Fund, and $11 million from the plant owners. This plant also qualified for the Industrial Electricity Incentive program, which provides a provincial break on high provincial electricity prices to large industrial users. The total project cost is $20 million. This contribution is through FedDev Ontario’s Investing in Business Growth and Productivity Initiative, which is aimed at helping businesses expand their operations, invest in productivity improvements and compete globally.
Our Government believes that it is support like this that can help our Eastern Ontario businesses to grow and remain sustainable over the long-term.
“Once again, congratulations. I’m looking forward to seeing all the great results that will come from restarting operations at Pembroke MDF. I wish all of those involved the best of luck and continued success,” concluded Cheryl Gallant, MP.