Shelburne will be at the vanguard of plastics recycling in North America, thanks to a $4-million federal grant which has enabled Ice River Springs Water Co. Inc. to complete its purchase of the former Setex plant.

Sandy Gott, Ice River coowner along with husband Jamie, said last Thursday the plant will be the first one of its kind in North America.

The new plant will recycle types of plastics which, according to Ms. Gott, “are not easily available.” The end product will be a supply of food-grade recycled plastic for other Ontario food processors for packaged products not limited to water. It was viewed as a solution to close the loop for Ontario’s recycling campaign,

The grant announcement was made Thursday under the Federal Economic Development Agency

FedDev) for southern Ontario at the empty plant. It is expected to generate an additional $15 million in private investment funding and create at least 60 jobs – a partial but welcome replacement of the

254 lost when Setex closed its doors last year. Mayor Ed Crewson, along with Shelburne CAO John Telfer who acted as economic development officer, as well as Warden Allen Taylor, spoke of the 15 months of struggling to find a new industry for the Setex plant. Mr. Telfer said it had been “ a pleasu rable 1 5 months” working with the Gotts, and Warden Taylor Your employment termed it a “test of expense answered See 181 Broadway, 519.941.3900 tenacity” for all parties involved. The mayor said the community “had pulled together as we have always done. After 15 months of struggle we’ll have 64 new jobs.” He added that it is a step forward to making Shelburne “the best small town in Ontario.” MP David Tilson said the new plant, and the investment that enabled it, is “good news for the area. Residents in our community will benefit from this project, which encourages economic revitalization. Our investment in the manufacturing sector of Dufferin County

will help this region become recognized as a key player in the global economy.” Mr. Tilson added that the grant is “assistance while (the community) weathers the storm” of a loss of one industrial plant during a global economic slowdown. Shelburne’s “storm” in the recession has been the loss of the Setex employment along with layoffs and employment early retirement questions buyouts at the answered Alliston Honda Page A13 p l a n tSome, Broadway, Orangeville but not 519.941.3900 all, of the laid-off Setex employees have since found new employment, largely through the efforts of Future Focus Action Centre, a service funded jointly by Setex and Employment Ontario. At one time, Setex has employed as many as 500 at what will now be the Ice River plant. News of the federal Ice River grant came hard on the heels of Honda’s announcement that it would be adding one shift and possibly 400 jobs later this summer. FedDev Ontario was creat-

ed as part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan to support economic and community development, innovation, and economic diversification, with contributions to communities, businesses and non-profit organizations in southern Ontario.