Eight Saskatchewan organizations are receiving more than $11.2 million in federal funding aimed at helping businesses expand production, improve productivity and find new markets amid ongoing trade uncertainty.
The funding, announced Oct. 9 through Prairies Economic Development Canada, comes from the Regional Tariff Response Initiative and the Business Scale-up and Productivity program. The federal government says the programs are intended to help businesses respond to pressures associated with U.S. tariffs while strengthening domestic supply chains.
Swift Current pasta production receives support
Solo Italia Fine Pasta Inc. and South West Terminal Ltd. are receiving funding through both programs to expand commercial pasta production in Swift Current.
The companies will receive $1.15 million in repayable funding to purchase and install commercial pasta-production equipment, including automated packaging, production-control systems and food-safety equipment.
Another $966,850 in non-repayable funding will support facility renovations, cold-storage capabilities and space for the new equipment.
The federal government says the project is intended to increase domestic food production while adding value to Saskatchewan-grown durum wheat.
Frontier manufacturer receives nearly $1M
Honey Bee Manufacturing in Frontier will receive $999,850 through the Regional Tariff Response Initiative.
The money is intended for new information-technology infrastructure and efforts to expand the company’s market.
The Regional Tariff Response Initiative provides non-repayable support aimed at helping tariff-affected small and medium-sized businesses improve productivity and diversify markets, according to PrairiesCan.
Fertilizer, manufacturing projects also funded
Northern Nutrients Ltd. will receive $3.1 million to add a second manufacturing facility in Saskatoon and expand production of specialized sulphur fertilizer.
The company says the expansion is expected to triple its sulphur fertilizer capacity to 150,000 metric tonnes annually.
M.P.S. Welding Inc. will receive about $2.61 million to expand manufacturing in Pierceland and develop new products for the Western Canadian heavy oil and oil sands sector.
Titan Clean Energy Projects Corporation will receive $787,500 to increase production at its biomass-processing facility in Craik.
Three Farmers Foods Inc. is receiving $1 million to expand blending and packaging capacity in Saskatoon, develop an allergen-friendly production area and support marketing and export development.
Digital platform planned for Prairie rail network
The Western Canadian Short Line Railway Association will receive $611,400 to develop Prairie Connect, a publicly accessible digital platform mapping trade corridors, communities, resources, development sites and ports across the Prairies.
The association says the platform is intended to connect shippers with railway operators and loading locations and increase awareness of freight opportunities in rural Saskatchewan.
Federal officials say the projects supported by the Oct. 9 announcement are expected to support more than 147 jobs.
The federal government expanded the Regional Tariff Response Initiative earlier this year as part of a broader package of assistance for workers and businesses affected by U.S. tariffs.