Backgrounder: Equipment and expansions help South Shore businesses modernize and grow

- East River Shipyard in Lunenburg County is receiving $500,000 to upgrade its facility with a new travel lift, office building, dry well and clean power infrastructure. The development will enable the Shipyard to attract high-value superyachts and commercial vessels up to 150 feet, as well as attain Blue Flag ecological designation. The project will create five jobs.

- The Shipyard is also receiving $250,000 to construct a new service building and a dry dock. The additions will further increase the company’s capacity to host larger vessels as they pursue marine tourism and target the inbound export market. The project will create three jobs.

- Hubbards-based Vale Packaging is receiving $400,000 (repayable) to introduce an energy-efficient thermoforming machine to produce tampered-evident recyclable food packaging. It will modernize its operations with an automated pallet wrapper, product stackers, and conveyor belts. The additions will add new capabilities for safer packaging options as well as improve safety, productivity and product quality as the company explores export markets. The project will create three jobs.

- Vale is also receiving $50,000 (non-repayable) to start a digitalization program to increase productivity, reduce downtime, and improve inventory management. Vale will incorporate Enterprise Resource Planning software to improve tracking, control, and productivity at its facility as well as a series of sensors to track machine performance. The technology supports the company as it implements a growth plan focusing on modernization and efficiency.