RADF Investment: $950,000

Other Investment: $3.9 million

Total Investment: $5.5 million

Project Period: February 2012 - December 2013

T: 780.623.5522

The Food Processing/Food Sciences Training Facility will provide an innovative teaching and processing facility to help establish a regional food industry in the St. Paul and eastern region of the province. The facility will provide processing capacity and food sciences technology for local and small food growers to bring their products into the commercial retail market. Food sciences training for certificate and diploma programs will be offered through Portage College's St. Paul Campus, opening opportunities for youth and community residents to develop hands-on skills for use in the growing industry.

Expected Outcomes and Benefits

All projects go through a selection process to ensure they will improve the quality of life for Albertans. This project meets this objective through the following outcomes and benefits:

• Provides opportunity for new equipment and food products to be tested in a functional and certified facility
• Creates a local workforce trained in food sciences for up to 140 post-secondary students annually through the creation of new food sciences programming
• Diversifies the region's local economies through value-added agriculture that will stimulate economic growth within rural communities
• The facility will become a small-scale incubator for smaller food producers in the region