“Over 60 years experience”
Pat Culhane for Mayor
Brighton Box 474, Hwy 2 East • 613-475-2414
Honest Accountable Approachable
Complete propane ServiCe
Residential • Commercial • Industrial • Cylinder & Bulk • FAMILY BUSINESS • FAMILY SERVICE • FAMILY PRICES
Proven Experience for our City
votepat.ca
2014 yamaha Grizzly 700
Truckload Sale!
R0012918901
7th r 2 ne be ulha o t C Oc at yor On te P r Ma o V fo
Winch & Plow
$199 +Taxes
Only
starting at
2.99% OaC
MOTOSPORTS of TRENTON 613-965-6626
Belleville News THE
Proudly serving Belleville and Area
www.insidebelleville.com
October 16, 2014
Strathcona Solar growth expected to create more than 100 new jobs By Stephen Petrick
R0012946599
News - Greater Napanee - An economic announcement made in the Bay of Quinte’s most eastern community Friday, October 10, should mean great news for job seekers across the region. A ribbon was cut to mark the opening of Strathcona Solar Initiatives’ new manufacturing plant. According to a press release by the Lennox & Addington Community Futures Development Corporation, the plant’s opening will lead to 50 new jobs in Napanee. But along with the opening of the new plant, the business has also acquired Mage Solar of Atlanta and a second company from Newark, New Jersey. These acquisitions trigger the growth of a broader Strathcona Energy Group (SEG). That group has purchased the former Nortel building in Belleville, where a new manufacturing facility is expected to employ 130 people. It’s exciting news for economic development groups, who have worked for years to promote eastern Ontario as a place where innovative businesses can thrive. A ribbon was cut to mark the opening of Strathcona Solar Initiatives’ new plant in Napanee on Friday, October 10. Pictured are (from left) Prince EdwardStrathcona Solar Initiatives Hastings MP Daryl Kramp, Strathcona Solar’s Karl Hollett and Susanne Hollett, Wido Fath of the partnering business FATH GmbH, and Lennox and started in Napanee in 2009 and has Addington County Warden Gord Schermerhorn. Photo: Submitted grown significantly since. With the
new acquisitions, the business will make renewable energy products for customers around the world. “It’s a regional growth project and it’s a company that’s local,” said Stephen Paul, Lennox & Addington County’s Director of Development and Community Services, who was part of Friday’s announcement. “They [the owners] are entrepreneurs that were based in this area, and now it’s an international player in the solar business.” One of the most exciting aspects of the announcement, he said, is that the job growth is expected to happen almost immediately. The company is hoping for a 60-day startup period and expects to be producing products by the end of the year. “This is not a year away or two years away,” Paul said. “This is a matter of one or two months.” Strathcona CEO Karl Hollett outlined the company’s expansion of manufacturing facilities and growth of the local work force in the press release. He stated the Napanee plant is 60,000 square feet and the employees there will produce the new VOLT solar module system that will serve the European market. Please see “Company” on page 2