Mr. John Griffin, President of Griffin Holdings Inc., announced today development plans for the new West Prince Business Park. The park, which is centrally located in the heart of Bloomfield, will help to attract prospective businesses to the West Prince area.
Three years ago, the Griffins sold their first lot to McCain's. After other businesses showed interest in buying more lots, Griffin decided to turn a part of his farm land into a business park.
"Our family farm is a major employer in this area; and with the opening of this new business park, we hope to create even more jobs in West Prince," said Griffin. "I'm very pleased to be contributing back to this community and feel very proud to be developing a business park in an area that has so much potential."
The West Prince Business Park's priority focus is diversified business. This year, the park will have McCain Fertilizer Ltd., a John Deere dealership, and a welding shop as tenants.
The location of the park makes it readily accessible for people from Tignish, Alberton and O'Leary. Presently, the whole property is approximately 50 acres, with five lots still remaining. Once those lots fill up, John Griffin will look at phase two of the project, where he will develop more lots on the property.
"The Province is pleased to see the private sector making such an investment in the West Prince area," said Mike Currie, Minister of Development and Technology. "I congratulate John Griffin and his family for their initiative in helping to create a strong economic climate in western Prince Edward Island. I look forward to seeing this business park, and West Prince as a whole, grow and prosper with the new businesses that locate here."
The Griffin family have been long- time members and players in the agriculture and community sectors of West Prince. Wilfred Griffin, John and Peter Griffin's father, started the farm in the 1947. When he passed away in 1996, the farm was taken over by his two sons, John and Peter, and Wilfred's wife, Marie.
The Government of Prince Edward Island works with the private sector and communities across the province to develop the infrastructure necessary to attract new and expanding businesses. For the West Prince Business Park development, Transportation and Public Works provided the technical assistance for the construction and design of the park and Prince Edward Island Business Development provided the marketing assistance.
For more information, contact John Griffin, Griffin Holdings Inc. at (902) 853-2755 or Julie Whitlock, Prince Edward Island Business Development at (902) 368-6264.