Province Helps Southwestern N.S. Company Point Finger to Success

Whether it is huge foam finger at a major league ball game, or a foam dinosaur on a stick at Disney World, the creative products were likely manufactured in Nova Scotia.

Diamond Diversified Industries Limited, known as Foamworx, is located in Cornwallis Park, Annapolis Co., and has been leading the field of foam products since 1995. The province provided the company with a start-up loan and marketing assistance, and is helping again as the successful southwestern Nova Scotia company is poised to expand further into world markets.

"The province is pleased to invest in the future of this dynamic company, which is recognized internationally for its leadership and creativity in the foam products niche market," said Economic Development Minister Richard Hurlburt. "This expansion will mean 10 new jobs, increased productivity, and continued success for this highly competitive, export manufacturing business."

The province is providing a $180,000 loan and the company is investing $175,000 in the $355,000 expansion to purchase equipment, make environmental improvements in the plant and develop new marketing strategies necessary to remain competitive. Incentives up to $69,800 can be earned, based on the number of new jobs created.

Formerly Darmos Enterprises International Limited, Foamworx is under new ownership, employs 35 full-time permanent people and plans to add 10 positions within two years. The company manufactures foam products including fingers, sandals, beverage coolers, puzzles, and practical promotional items such as drink holders and desk organizers that are used by the NFL, NHL, NBA and MLB and major corporations such as Ford, Telus, American Idol and Sony Entertainment.

"If it's made of foam, we can make it," said Lawrence Garner, president of Foamworx. "If it's not in our inventory, it soon can be. Our talented engineers and designers can create and manufacture just about anything anyone wants, big or small, and send it down the street or around the world."

The loan is repayable over five years and is provided by the Industrial Expansion Fund. The fund offers a variety of financial assistance to help the province's economy. Over the past two years, it has helped create or maintain more than 3,000 jobs in the province, and has a return on investment of three dollars for every dollar spent.