The expansion will enable the company to move into exciting new markets.

There are currently 80 employees at the plant. The company will initially hire eleven more people and will hire an additional eleven if the demand is sufficient to run a second shift.

The expansion will consist of an addition to the existing building and purchase of additional processing equipment.

“Agrawest is a real success story for the Town of Souris,” said Development and Technology Minister Mike Currie. “In the past seven years, the company has grown steadily and has employed more and more people from this area. They are an important employer and I am pleased to announce that they will create even more jobs for the people of this community.”

Construction on the project is scheduled to begin in June with a planned completion date of November 2004. Total cost of the project will be approximately $2.5 million.

AgraWest will receive a $2 million repayable loan from the PEI Century 2000 Fund.