BELLEVILLE, Ontario – The Canadian government has invested $1.5 million for Vantage Foods, a case-ready fresh meat producer, announced Daryl Kramp, Member of Parliament for Prince Edward-Hastings.

The funding comes from the Federal Economic Development (FedDev) Agency and is part of FedDev Ontario's Prosperity Initiative. The money helped Vantage Foods open the company's first processing facility in Ontario. The meat produced at the plant will go directly to the Eastern Canadian market. The company worked with Loyalist College to hire and train 150 workers.

"The support that we received from Feddev Ontario's Prosperity Initiative has helped us establish a presence in Ontario and introduce the latest technologies in processing and food safety," Rob Dettlinger, vice president, Canadian Operations East. "We are thrilled to have created 150 new jobs for area families, and look forward to long term growth and expanding markets for our Belleville operation."