A farmers’ seed-cleaning co-operative in Alberta’s northern Peace region will get just over $2.5 million in public funds to replace its seed cleaning plant.
Federal government funding announced Tuesday for the High Prairie Seed Cleaning Co-op’s new facility will flow through the federal Community Adjustment Fund (CAF), meant to back diversification efforts in communities leaning heavily on resource-based industries.
The federal contribution of $2,004,700, plus a $500,000 contribution from the Municipal District of Big Lakes, will go toward a new plant with increased seed cleaning capacity, new sorting technology and room for future expansion.
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“Further benefits for High Prairie include the creation of immediate job opportunities and production of feed for use by local farms,” the government said in a release Tuesday.
The co-op, based at High Prairie, about 125 km southeast of Peace River, “plays a key role in sustaining our community’s strong agricultural presence,” Alvin Billings, reeve for the MD of Big Lakes, said in the government’s release.
“Constructing this new, state of the art facility will create jobs and save transportation costs by ensuring that local farmers have access to services within their own community.”
The co-op’s board began “looking at” the possibility for a new seed cleaning plant about 10 years ago, plant manager Bryant Kushner said in the federal release.
The CAF funding requires a completion deadline of March 31, 2011 for the project. Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) oversees Western Canada’s $306 million share of the two-year, $1 billion CAF budget.
Approved CAF projects must have “no requirement for continued support” following completion.
