With a total of 15 businesses supported in 2018-2019,
the Fonds régionaux de solidarité FTQ Laval-Laurentides-Lanaudière injected more than $22.3 million in the local economy
Highlights
- In fiscal 2018-2019, the Fonds régionaux de solidarité FTQ Laval-Laurentides-Laval invested $22,332,182 in 15 regional companies.
- The partner companies are: Collections Unimage, Hulix Construction, La Compagnie 2 Amériks Inc. (GoGo Quinoa), Les installations électriques LH Ltd. and SMT Hautes Technologies Inc. in the Laval region; Camp Sportmax, Énergie Cardio Inc., Groupe Noddem Inc., Service alimentaire Desco Inc. and Transgestion Inc. in the Laurentides region; Agro-100 Ltd., Intermat (De la Fontaine & Associés Inc.), Groupe Manucam, Machinerie R. Gagnon Inc. and Motion Composites Inc. in the Lanaudière region.
- Since its creation in 1996, the Fonds régionaux de solidarité FTQ Laval-Laurentides-Lanaudière have invested $183.3 million in the region.
Laval, June 20, 2019 – In the past year, the Fonds régionaux de solidarité FTQ Laval invested $1.5 million in 2 Ameriks (GoGo Quinoa), a Laval-based company that manufactures and distributes a broad variety of quinoa-based products, including packaged grains, pasta and cookies under the brand name GoGoQuinoa. This is one of fifteen investments made in 2018-2019, bringing the total to more than $22.3 million for the FRS Laval-Laurentides-Lanaudière.
After tasting quinoa for the first time in Bolivia more than 20 years ago, Martin Bilodeau has since developed the broadest variety of quinoa-based products in North America. The growing popularity of quinoa and the GoGoQuinoa brand on supermarket shelves led the company to expand its facilities a few times before finally settling in the Laval Industrial Park two years ago. The $1.5 million investment by the FRS de Laval will allow the company to continue diversifying its products and develop new supply sources.
“We currently have 60 different quinoa-based products on the shelves and plan to continue our vertical integration over the next five years. To do so, we have to invest heavily in R&D to become more innovative. We’re also looking to expand our supply network for raw materials in Western Canada and Québec. Besides financing, the FRS de Laval and the Fonds de solidarité FTQ offer added value due to their teams’ agrifood expertise and the quality of their contact network,” said 2 Ameriks’ founding president Martin Bilodeau.
“Our investment teams are interested in businesses that operate in all kinds of industries. Their common denominator is that they have vision and develop promising projects to ensure their company’s growth and advancement. 2 Ameriks is a perfect example in this regard, and we’re proud to support such dynamic entrepreneurs. This company makes a tangible contribution to our positive results in the regional economy,” said in turn Éric Dargis, Regional Vice-President, Fonds régionaux de solidarité FTQ Laval Laurentides and Lanaudière regions.
A well-entrenched and healthy FRS network
In fiscal 2018-2019, the Fonds régionaux de solidarité FTQ invested a total of $120,662,030 in 117 Québec businesses. This was an exceptionally strong year in terms of investments and number of files handled since the creation of the Fonds régionaux in 1996.
“Thanks to the Fonds régionaux, we’ve been able to develop a strong network on the ground and boost our presence in every region of Québec. Our investment teams and board members are very close to the business communities they serve. They are therefore well placed to understand local issues and propose financing solutions that meet the needs of the region’s entrepreneurs. These solid results attest to the strength of our network and our contribution to the vitality of the regional economy,” said Luc Pinard, President and CEO, Fonds régionaux de solidarité FTQ.
About the Fonds régionaux de solidarité FTQ
The Fonds régionaux de solidarité FTQ have been participating in the economic development of Québec’s regions for over 23 years. An integral part of the Fonds de solidarité FTQ network, the Fonds régionaux have invested $918 million in 1,434 projects since their inception in 1996, helping to create, maintain or protect 51,846 jobs.
About 2 Ameriks
Founded in 2004, 2 Ameriks is a leading Canadian company that focuses primarily on quinoa under the GoGo Quinoa brand. As a fair trade company, it aims to contribute to the well-being of all consumers by offering nutritious and flavourful products that are ethically and responsibly sourced. They are also committed to fulfilling the principles governing fair trade quinoa practices throughout their product offering. www.gogoquinoa.com
- 30 -