Chamber supports foundry operator

NEW GLASGOW – Maritime Steel and Foundry owner Abbas Jafarnia says he welcomes support from the Pictou County Chamber of Commerce to help revitalize the venerable plant as a business entity in Pictou County.
“We believe the foundry operations complement the other steel and metal fabrication businesses in the County and would create skilled job opportunities to retain employees and attract newcomers to our community,” chamber president Bruce Herron said in a letter to Primer Darrell Dexter. “The Chamber acknowledges the concerns that have been raised relating to the location of the foundry, but believes the first step in addressing the long term future of its operations is getting the business running again. We support Abbass Jafarnia’s efforts to make this happen.”
Jafarnia said the chamber’s boost has emboldened him to keep operating the plant and continue applying for provincial funding to help him expand the business. He has been seeking a $1 million loan to help him secure bigger orders for the plant.
“I appreciate their support and hope the support finally has results,” he said. “If it wasn’t for their support, I would have closed this place two weeks ago.”
Despite the province’s most recent rejection of funding, Jafarnia said Monday he wants to present another proposal to Economic and Rural Development Minister Percy Paris this week to help him secure bigger orders and raise the employment level closer to the 100 workers he could be employing from the present 20 people at the plant.
“I’m not going to leave him alone,” he said.
Jafarnia has not ruled out moving the plant elsewhere in Pictou County once it’s profitable and allow the Town of New Glasgow to fulfill its desire to convert the land the plant sits on for recreational and residential use.
“I want to show (Paris) different scenarios,” he said. “It’s more logical to run this plant here and make it profitable. Then you can move it. I want to show it can make money. The government says (investing) is risky. It’s us taking the risk, not the government. If you know a business that isn’t risky, let me know.”
Jafarnia bought the plant for $1.25 million last August and has found it difficult to secure funding from the province or banks to give it the cash flow he says the business needs to grow.
He was to meet with a bank this week in hopes of getting a loan.