Jamie Cameron
SHAWVILLE – Local elected officials and two of the four owners of the slaughterhouse gathered at the unfinished building August 2, where Pontiac MNA André Fortin announced the project was awarded a $200,000 provincial grant from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food.
Jamie Cameron
SHAWVILLE – Local elected officials and two of the four owners of the slaughterhouse gathered at the unfinished building August 2, where Pontiac MNA André Fortin announced the project was awarded a $200,000 provincial grant from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food.
According to owner Alain Lauzon, the money will make it easier to get the business up and running. “It will help us pay off our loans faster by lowering the amount we pay in interest,” he added, noting that making a profit sooner will make it easier to expand.
The meeting also gave an update on the building’s construction. The owners expect the business to be operational by November 1.
The slaughterhouse covers 10,000 square feet and was built to easily allow for expansion if more space is required in upcoming years. “Expanding into Ontario is
a future goal, and we can easily add on to make room to [accommodate increased demand] if the opportunity arises,” said Lauzon. The business will employ eight people when it first opens and more positions are expected to be added in the future.
The slaughterhouse will meet all provincial and federal standards and will have a C1 rating so farmers can sell their products as certified meat. In order to comply with Halal standards, the business will not take pork or poultry; however, field-dressed carcasses will be accepted from hunters.
Fortin stressed that the operation will help the community as a whole by employing local people and reducing transportation costs for farmers.
