The well-known Island company, COWS Inc., will be moving into a much-needed larger production space. Funding from the federal and provincial governments will enable the company to break ground soon on a 32,000 square foot facility which will serve as the new headquarters and also feature in-house ice cream, cheese and screen printing production. The new facility will also be set up to offer factory tours to the public.
Gerald Keddy, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) and to the Minister of International Trade; the Honourable Richard Brown, PEI Minister of Innovation and Advanced Learning; and Lindsay Linkletter, Manager of Public Relations with COWS Inc., today gathered on site at the North River Causeway – the future home of the new COWS facility – to announce the funding as well as project details.
“The Government of Canada is committed to creating the right conditions for businesses like COWS to thrive in Atlantic Canada,” said Parliamentary Secretary Keddy, on behalf of the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister of ACOA. “This ACOA investment will enable this PEI company to purchase and install equipment in a new facility that is expected to attract Islanders and visitors alike.”
COWS currently rents commercial space in the West Royalty Industrial Park. The new headquarters will be company owned and will house the production of all goods under one roof.
“COWS is an internationally recognized company that is respected for creating employment and attracting a lot of attention to Prince Edward Island,” said Minister Brown. “The Government of Prince Edward Island is committed to working with businesses to expand the provincial economy and COWS ice cream is a true testament to the creativity and dedication in the Island business community.”
With an old-fashioned family ice cream recipe in his hand, COWS President Scott Linkletter created a small business based on a tasty homemade product in 1983. Two years later, a quirky idea of cartoon cows on staff uniforms resulted in the company’s first expansion – the COWS line, featuring screenprint t-shirts and other products.
“We are very excited about this expansion – it will truly take the COWS experience to a whole new level for Islanders and visitors alike,” said Jackie MacIntyre, Vice-President. “For us, the support we have received from the federal and provincial governments is a testament to the hard work our employees have put into this company for a quarter of a century.”
The newest expansion is the COWS Creamery. This venture combines the manufacturing of cheese, clothing and ice cream with a fun and informative factory tour.
ACOA will invest $350,000 through a repayable loan from its Business Development Program toward the cost of manufacturing equipment. The provincial government has provided long-term financing for the expansion plans for this company.