Kelson and Kelson to create jobs in Saint John

SAINT JOHN (GNB) – Kelson and Kelson Industrial Group will create 23 new jobs in Saint John with support from the provincial government.

“Kelson and Kelson are a real success story for the Saint John region and the entire New Brunswick economy,” said Energy and Resource Development Minister Rick Doucet. “This company’s continued expansion is a direct result of the targeted investments your government has made. This is further proof that our economic growth plan is working and that we are getting things done.”

Doucet spoke on behalf of Economic Development Minister Francine Landry, who is also the minister responsible for Opportunities NB.

Kelson and Kelson has grown its workforce in Saint John from 35 full-time employees in 2015 to its current 60 full-time workers, with more hiring planned for the coming months. Most of the new positions will be in the industrial trades, with specializations such as journeyman and apprentice sandblasters, painters and foremen, as well as administrative staff. The company is also undertaking a $400,000 expansion of its physical plant, an indirect benefit of the government’s investment.

“This is truly a period of rapid growth for our team,” said company president Terry Kelson. “None of this would have been possible without the support of our provincial partners. They believed in the potential of the outstanding team we have assembled here in Saint John, and this has allowed us to begin exporting our services across the country.”

To support the expansion, the company is eligible for an investment of $320,000 from Opportunities NB, which is a Crown corporation that seeks to attract and support opportunities to grow the economy and create jobs. It provides support services for businesses across the province. This support is expected to help generate more than $2.3 million of capital spending and hiring by the company.

It is estimated that creating up to 23 jobs would contribute $2.5 million to the province’s GDP over four years and generate $511,000 in provincial taxes over that same period.

Kelson and Kelson provides industrial painting services, specializing in industrial flooring, lead abatement, dry-ice blasting, industrial coating and sandblasting.