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Aug 8, 2006: Picasso Fish was recently highlighted in the local Simcoe Reformer paper, including a photo of John on the front page.

Transition projects share $6.6 million in funding

The Tuesday Times-Reformer

Kate Schwass - Times-Reformer
Tuesday August 01, 2006

Expansion of mini-carrot processing, training employees to work in an auto parts manufacturing plant and eco-tourism were some of the Norfolk projects that received funding through the Community Transition Program.
Yesterday, the Community Transition Program (CTP) announced that of 25 newly approved projects, nine are from Norfolk.
The 25 projects represent $6.6 million of a $15 million fund established by the province to help tobacco-growing regions in the counties of Brant, Elgin, Oxford and Norfolk.
But while 10 of the projects were for crop diversification, two were food processing and two more were tourism/agri-tourism, there was room for non-agriculture projects as well.
One of those was John Matecsa’s project to expand his business Picasso Fish Corporation beyond website development.
“We’re expanding on our technology strengths,” Matecsa said.
The Simcoe business has been open for five years and has three full-time employees, as well as part-time help and freelancers. In a year-and-a-half, Matecsa said they hope to have between 15-20 new people.
They will be expanding their website hosting services, and with that will be hiring programmers, graphic designers and sales staff, but they’re also looking to increase their other software initiatives, such as volunteer management software and supply chain management databases. Matecsa said he’s hoping their growth will mean more spin-offs in the future.
They’re already hiring and people can apply on their website (www.picassofish.com).
“I’ll take the best person for the job, but I am biased to local people,” he said.
Matecsa said it was necessary for them to grow and the CTP grant money will help them.
“Growth in the high tech sector is necessary. You either grow or die,” he said. “The timing is right.”
For the April 7 deadline, the program received 185 pre-proposals representing CTP grant requests of $65 million. Of that, 25 new projects have been approved by the project approval committee and they have signed contracts with the CTP, yesterday’s press release said. Another $4.6 million has been approved by the project approval committee and the details of these projects will be released as contracts are signed.
It is anticipated the program will run out of money by Oct. 2006.
In a press release from the Community Transition Program, regional co-ordinator John Klunder said the program is funding a diverse range of projects.
“These 25 projects . . . clearly demonstrate the positive impact that CTP is having on the local economy,” Klunder said.

Kate Schwass (519) 426-5710 ext. 140
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http://www.simcoereformer.ca/story.php?id=245432

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