Federal Funding to Create Jobs and Support Agriculture in High Prairie

February 09, 2010

High Prairie, Alberta – Brian Jean, Member of Parliament for Fort McMurray-Athabasca and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, on behalf of the Honourable Lynne Yelich, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification, announced Government of Canada support to help strengthen economic opportunities in High Prairie.

“Today’s announcement is about creating a sustainable economy in our rural communities,” said MP Jean. “Constructing this seed cleaning plant will provide immediate employment opportunities and also support the local agriculture industry, which plays a vital role in the area.”

Today’s federal investment is enabling the High Prairie Seed Cleaning Co-Op to replace the existing seed cleaning plant in the area. The new facility’s increased seed cleaning capacity, new sorting technology, and capacity for future expansion will ensure High Prairie farmers continue to have a place to clean and market their products. Further benefits for High Prairie include the creation of immediate job opportunities and production of feed for use by local farms.

Federal funding of $2,004,700 is being provided through the Community Adjustment Fund (CAF) as part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan. In addition, the Municipal District of Big Lakes is also providing $500,000 towards the project.

“The High Prairie Seed Cleaning Co-op is a key member of our agricultural community and the vitality of this enterprise is important to the future health of the local agricultural presence,”said an MD of Big Lakes representative. “By constructing a new state-of-the-art facility, local farmers will be able to access services within their own community and thereby saving on transportation costs.  The combined efforts of the MD, the federal government, and the town of High Prairie are a testament to cooperative action and the importance placed on agriculture in our community as one of its founding industries.”

 “Ten years ago the High Prairie Seed Cleaning Co-op Board of directors started looking towards building a new seed cleaning plant in High Prairie,” said Bryant Kushner, Plant Manager. “As a small co-op with limited funds, this project would not have been possible today without cooperation and support  from the MD of Big Lakes, our farmer members, and federal funding through the CAF. This will go far to support agriculture in our area for many years to come.”
  
The fund will provide $306 million over two years to support the most affected western Canadian communities, such as those that are heavily reliant on resource-based industries, for instance forestry, mining, agriculture and fisheries, and communities that depend on the manufacturing industry. Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) is delivering the fund in the four western provinces.

Visit the Community Adjustment Fund (CAF) in the West or Canada’s Economic Action Plan for more information.