SYDNEY (NS) – September 5, 2008 – Government of Canada business loans to ProtoCase Incorporated of Sydney are helping establish an innovative manufacturing facility, the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) announced today.
“Our Government is committed to supporting projects that help create long-term economic growth and sustainability in all regions of Canada,” said Minister MacKay. “These investments of more than $757,000 will help ProtoCase enhance productivity, create jobs and expand opportunities for Cape Breton through increased exports.”
With sales continuing to rise, these investments are helping ProtoCase develop a new 3,050 square-metre manufacturing facility with state-of-the-art laser equipment. This facility will enable the company to make its products more efficiently to meet the needs of its customers.
“This support from the federal government will allow Protocase to better position itself as a supplier of aluminum enclosures. In addition, employment will grow, exports will increase and new product categories will propel this Cape Breton firm to the forefront of the quick turn enclosure sector,” said Steven Lilley, President of Protocase Inc.
ProtoCase Incorporated of Sydney supplies mass customized enclosures to the electronics industry and research organizations. The company was incorporated in 2001 and has over 1200 customers, including Boeing, Motorola, NASA, MIT and Stanford. The company's workforce will increase by 7 to 37 employees with this new facility.
The total cost of this project is $2,775,000. Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation is providing a business loan of $370,052 for building costs while ACOA is providing a second loan of $387,528, through its Business Development Program, for machinery and equipment. The Province of Nova Scotia previously announced a loan of $1,200,000 towards the establishment of ProtoCase. The balance of funding for this project is being provided by ProtoCase as well as Growth Works Canada Fund ($1.1 million investment).
Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation offers programs in support of economic development initiatives and is responsible for delivering ACOA’s programs on Cape Breton Island and in the Mulgrave area.
INFORMATION:
D.A. Landry Director
ECBC Communications
Tel: 902-564-3617
Steven Lilley, President
Protocase Inc.
Tel: 902-578-3775