Volume 4, Issue 3:   November 17, 2011

RECENT PROJECT ANNOUNCEMENTS:

FreshTec Systems Canada Inc. & Innovative Food Systems Corp. – financing September 2011
These companies will market and sell a revolutionary fruit, vegetable and fresh-cut flower packaging system that provides for transport of ripe ready-to-eat produce in a food safe application. The Smart Pac/Fresh Span modified atmosphere packaging system has the capability of preserving ripe fruit and vegetable and cut-flower for periods of 21 to 45 days depending upon the product. This provides tremendous opportunity for local producers to access high value Asian and European markets with premium products at lower transportation costs.

Pareto Platform Inc. – financing September 2011
Pareto Platform, an existing technology company and ISV partner with Microsoft, is expanding their operations to capitalize on the momentum they have in place with new and existing clients as well as strategic alliances. Pareto Platform is a leading provider of client relationship management dashboard and workflow solutions that addresses all of the needs of today's wealth management professionals.

GRANTS AWARDED

Revelstoke Nordic Ski Club – Nordic Trails Improvement - $50,000
The Revelstoke Nordic Ski Club has made strategic investments of over $800,000 over the last 2 years to further enhance the quality of the cross country skiing experience. The Club's existing trail network, though fairly extensive, is limited in its ability to provide shorter distance loop trails from the Day Lodge. The Club is creating 1 km and 2.5 km loop trails off of their premier beginner trail in order to hold regional and provincial level cross country ski races as these events require shorter loop trails. Hosting race events can be a substantial economic generator for the community.

University of British Columbia – Biotechnology Resources - $50,000
This grant will assist researchers to take prototypes to field test, market and distribute products based on current laboratory-scale technologies to improve the efficiency of the agricultural water use in the Okanagan. The project will introduce new drought tolerant rootstock genotypes to the wine industry and provide a novel portable kit for early drought stress detection. The goal is to improve both water use efficiency and irrigation management practices with respect to both timing and quantity of water used for grapevine berry production.