YEAR IN REVIEW | 2024, a year rich in investments

This year, the most important investment was that announced by the tank trailer manufacturer Tremcar, which will spend 38 million in a new factory which should be operational in August 2025. This fall, shovelfuls of earth followed one another in the Granby industrial park. The kick-off was given at the beginning of September by the company Transformateurs Pioneer, which plans to invest 17 million in the expansion of current installations and the modernization of its equipment. This manufacturer produces between 55 and 65 transformers per month on behalf of Hydro-Québec. Self-adhesive label and flexible packaging manufacturer Labelink has announced the construction of a new factory for its 20th anniversary. An investment estimated at 15 million. Founded in 2006, Ludik Designer Confectioner, which markets candies in bulk under the Kandju trademark, will transfer its facilities from Saint-Césaire to Granby in 2025 to a brand new industrial building. The overall cost of this future production center has been estimated at 8.5 million.

Labor conflict at the Granby Zoo

A regional institution, the labor conflict at the Granby Zoo has far from gone unnoticed in Quebec. Following an indefinite strike vote, some 130 unionized employees were locked out by the employer last July. Since then, the negotiation sessions have followed, interspersed with demonstrations and picketing activities in various places in the city. For several weeks, the National Union of Employees of the Zoological Society of Granby, affiliated with the CSN, and the management side seem to have found fertile ground to hope to agree on the terms of a new collective agreement. The National Union of Employees of the Granby Zoological Society–CSN, maintenance and keepers section, represents veterinary and animal care technicians, naturalist-interpreters, mechanics, carpenters as well as members of administrative staff.

Uncertain future for the Farnham biomethanization plant

The project to establish a biomethanization plant in Farnham suffered a serious setback in November. The main investor, the Danish company Nature Energy, is throwing in the towel on this industrial project valued at 200 million. If the Danish promoter withdraws, the second promoter, Énergir, intends to do everything possible to ensure that the project continues and comes to fruition. For almost two years, Nature Energy and Énergir Développement (formerly Gaz Métro) have been working to develop a future biomethanization plant in Farnham with the aim of valorizing agricultural biomass and producing renewable natural gas. Nature Energy, a subsidiary of the oil company Shell, puts forward arguments of unfavorable economic conditions to explain its exit from the project.

A 4th hotel coming to Granby

With an investment of $20 million, Groupe Robin announced at the end of November its intention to build and manage a dual-brand hotel in Granby. This hotel establishment, scheduled to open in spring 2026, will offer guests 45 studios under the Candlewood Suites brand and 83 rooms furnished according to the standards of the Holiday Inn Express & Suites banner. To make this project a reality, the Robin Group acquired land located at the intersection of routes 112 and 139, owned by businessmen Daniel Touchette, Mathieu Couture, Nicolas Forand and Bryan Furlong. Positioned at the rear of the Granby motel, the site will be surrounded by the access ramp to the new Route 139 overpass. “The hotel will accommodate 65% tourists, people passing through, cycling athletes and teams sports. The other portion will be intended for businesses,” assesses Nellie Robin, president of the Robin Group.

Costco more appetizing than ever

Will come, will not come? According to the mayor of Saint-Alphonse-de-Granby, Marcel Gaudreault. Costco plans to set up “on the land of the La Grillade maple grove and nowhere else.” Before summoning the media to officially announce the arrival of Costco in the region, two conditions must be met. The first is a sufficient drinking water supply to enable the operation of a store of this size. In an ideal world, the city would have to agree to extend its water services over a distance of three kilometers. An option dismissed out of hand by the mayor of Granby, Julie Bourdon since the popular American brand would not be located on the territory of the City. The second condition is new road access from Route 139 to the vast store site. A SOM surveyThe Voice of the East showed that 68% of Granby residents surveyed say they are very favorable to the arrival of a Costco in the region.

La Boufferie and Backbone close their doors

Founded in 2017, the La Chaufferie distillery, which was installed in a former industrial building dating from the end of 1800, closed its doors and declared bankruptcy in January 2024. The company produced a whisky, a gin and a vodka. According to documents obtained from the Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy, the company had debts totaling $2,011,719. “We are tied hand and foot with the SAQ. We cannot freely sell our local alcohols,” said Bryan Furlong to justify the setbacks experienced by his company. On the Bromont side, the business inexperience of the owners precipitated the fall of the Backbone climbing center. “We tried by all means to make the company survive. But since April, it’s been like a hemorrhage. You have to inject $15,000 per month in personal capital just to pay suppliers and other bills,” mentioned Frédérique Marseille, one of the co-owners of this family business.