Cheese maker receives $1 million Ontario grant

Ontario Premier and Minister of Agriculture Kathleen Wynne announces a $1-million investment in St. Albert Cheese Co-operative’s new manufacturing facility.

St. Albert, Ont. – St. Albert Cheese Co-operative has received a $1-million investment from the provincial government to help it build a new state-of-the-art cheese manufacturing facility. The co-operative’s original cheese factory was destroyed by fire in early 2013.

The new 76,000-sq.-ft. plant will be 30-per-cent larger than the original, and will include a manufacturing area, observation deck for visitors, a retail store and a restaurant.

Part of the funding will also go towards purchasing new equipment and establishing a computerized production line. The new operation will process 50 million litres of milk per year, and support more than 110 local jobs.

“St. Albert Cheese has been a cornerstone of this community for the past 120 years, and I’m proud to support this important project,” said Premier Wynne in making the announcement. “Through hard work and determination, I know St. Albert will once again be a vital part of the region’s economy and provide good jobs for local families.”

The cheese co-op, founded in 1894, has 40 members and represents 23 local dairy farms.