The member of Parliament for London North Centre, Peter Fragiskatos, announced on behalf of the Honorable Marie-Claude Bibeau, minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, an investment of over $2 million under the Dairy Processing Investment Fund for two dairy processors in St. Marys, Ontario.

An investment of $1,933,060 for Shepherd Gourment Dairy Inc., owned by Saputo Dairy Products Canada G.P., will help to expand the company’s production area and add new cold storage capacity. The project consists of the purchase and installation of equipment to increase production capacity, while improving overall efficiency. It is expected that the project will allow Shepherd Gourmet Dairy to increase the use of Canadian milk and to create approximately eight new jobs, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada said.

An investment of $149,238 for Stonetown Artisan Cheese Ltd. will allow the company to purchase and install new equipment to increase cutting, processing, storage and aging capacity. The new equipment will allow Stonetown Artisan Cheese to expand its operations and broaden product offerings. The project is also expected to increase the use of Canadian milk.

"This investment will help these local businesses expand and create opportunities for growth and economic development in St. Marys,” Fragiskatos said. “The government is pleased to work together with industry to ensure our Canadian dairy processors have the support needed to provide top-quality products, while creating well-paying jobs for Canadians."