$1 million funding for Matapédia biomass industry

June 30, 2010, Amqui, QC – Three financial
contributions totalling $1,090,358 are being granted to businesses in La
Matapédia regional county municipality (RCM) in Quebec. The funding, from
Canada Economic Development, is intended to support the development of the
forest biomass sector, a promising niche market according to all development
stakeholders in La Matapédia RCM.

"These projects are part of La Matapédia's
2008–2013 strategic development plan, which is the result of the extraordinary
mobilization of regional development stakeholders. This co-operative effort has
highlighted the favourable outlook for the biomass energy sector. Thanks to the
expertise developed by SEREX and businesses in the region, La Matapédia MRC is
diversifying its economy and industrial base, and gaining a head start in this
promising sector," says the Honourable Denis Lebel, minister of state for
Canada Economic Development.

Service de recherche et d'expertise en
transformation des produits forestiers (SEREX)

Founded in 1998, SEREX is an accredited college-level
technology transfer centre whose mission is to provide the secondary and
tertiary wood processing sector with research and development services,
technical assistance, technology transfer, and quality control. Its operations
consist mainly in developing and improving the performance of wood products and
their derivatives.

A non-repayable contribution of $705,000 from Canada
Economic Development under the Business and Regional Growth program will allow
this organization to design and create a prototype of a boiler fuelled by
forest biomass. SEREX will also ensure the development of this sector by
sharing its expertise with businesses operating in this industry, which should
lead to concrete, lasting economic benefits.

Coopérative forestière de La Matapédia

In business since 1994, this worker's co-operative
boasts over 70 members. It provides manufacturers and private woodlot owners
with flat-rate logging, hauling, culling, forestry road system construction,
and wood transport services. A repayable contribution of $360,000 from the
Community Adjustment Fund will allow the co-operative to purchase the equipment
it needs to convert wood residues into biomass to fuel furnaces in commercial,
institutional, and multi-residential buildings.

Productions Gaëtan Roy (9025-5043 Québec Inc.)

Since 1991, this enterprise has specialized in the
manufacture of custom metal products for various markets. A repayable
contribution of $25,358 from Canada Economic Development under the Community
Diversification program will allow the company to purchase and modify the
equipment required to produce metal components for the manufacturing of boilers
fuelled by forest biomass.