Province Supports Manufacturing Company, Protects Rural Jobs

A Weymouth manufacturer of high-value wood products will maintain good jobs and help strengthen the forestry industry in southwest Nova Scotia.

The province is supporting Lewis Mouldings and Wood Specialties Ltd. through a loan guarantee to continue its efforts to modernize, hire and expand into new markets.

"Dozens of families depend directly on Lewis Mouldings, and hundreds more businesses in the Weymouth area and across the province benefit from the company's efforts indirectly," said Economic and Rural Development and Tourism Minister Percy Paris. "Lewis Mouldings is an important contributor to Nova Scotia's forestry industry, and the province is keen to support this long-standing, family-owned business as it continues to grow, compete and hire."

Lewis Mouldings manufactures white pine mouldings, baseboards and other materials. The company also produces Fiber Fuel, a compressed briquette made from wood waste and used as an alternative to conventional firewood.

The province will provide a $1.6-million loan guarantee that will help the company expand its business and maintain and create jobs in rural Nova Scotia.

"This loan guarantee helps our family-owned company overcome some of the hurdles brought on by a difficult time in Nova Scotia's changing forestry industry," said Lewis Mouldings general manager Jamie Lewis. "Now, we have the support we need to expand our traditional moulding work, and continue our efforts to develop new and innovative products like Fiber Fuel.

"We've become innovators in the wood industry, and we will keep looking for new and creative ways to sustainably add value to Nova Scotia's forestry industry."

The Lewis family has operated in Weymouth for more than 60 years. Lewis Mouldings now employs 75 people at its 60,000 square-foot facility.

"The province's loan guarantee will help this important local employer remain competitive and profitable in our changing forestry industry," said Municipality of the District of Digby deputy warden Jimmy MacAlpine. "This helps ensure Lewis Mouldings can continue to support local jobs and local families well into the future."

The Nova Scotia Jobs Fund pursues investment opportunities for communities in transition, industry sectors, regional support, small business programs, infrastructure and large industrial ventures.