March 24, 1999
PROVINCE HELPS CRAFT BREWERY
CREATE NEW PRODUCTS AND JOBS
The Manitoba government is helping an enterprising new company brew up jobs and economic benefits, Industry, Trade and Tourism Minister Mervin C. Tweed said today.
Tweed said Manitoba Industry, Trade and Tourism has provided the Agassiz Brewing Company with $29,000 in assistance under the Technology Commercialization Program. The new, small-scale craft brewery has applied the funding to its design and engineering costs.
"Agassiz is using a number of innovative technological developments and we are pleased to support them," said Tweed. "Our government knows small and medium sized business are the backbone of the provincial economy."
Agassiz Brewing President/Brewmaster Gary De Pape said the company's two products, Premium Pilsner and Catfish Cream Ale, will be sold in Winnipeg, Brandon, Portage la Prairie and Selkirk to start.
"We believe there is a market in Manitoba for more specialized beer production," De Pape said. "We're starting on a modest scale and we hope to be able to expand our market very soon which will result in even more jobs within the company and the province."
De Pape said the company has eight employees, both full and part-time.
The Manitoba government's Technology Commercialization Program provides assistance to companies to support them in moving new and innovative technology from the research to the commercial stage. The province also provided assistance to Agassiz Brewing in developing a feasibility study.
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