NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release                                                 

AMA Gives Standing Ovation to Tacamor Inc.

Argentia, NL, March 02, 2009.  On Thursday, February 26, 2009, Tacamor Inc., a call centre based in the Argentia Technology Park, Town of Placentia since September 2006, has been the voices for the past two and a half years for Thumbplay, one of the largest and fastest-growing mobile-content providers in the United States, and one of the top companies of its kind in the world.
Thumbplay was recently recognized as Customer Service Leader of the Year at the Stevie Awards gala at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas. Michael Biondo, VP Customer Operations for Thumbplay, Inc., said that “Tacamor is an integral component in Thumbplay's great service!”  The 60-agent call center provides live, "24/7/365" phone, email and web chat support for Thumbplay and other companies, with a focus on delivering exceptional customer service. 
AMA Chairperson, Harvey Mercer praised the management and staff of Tacamor for the delivery of outstanding customer service to the mobile technology users; “AMA congratulates Mr. Ken Hann, management and staff for their superb excellence in meeting the needs of their clients.”  He further elaborated that “it is a tremendous milestone for the employees of Tacamor to reach such an important verification of their exceptional customer service and to be recognized in such a short time.” 
The Argentia Technology Park, owned and operated by the AMA, is located just one kilometre from the Port of Argentia, and offers 10 acres of prime real estate at a reasonable cost, quick access to supplies and services, communications infrastructure, and established transportation networks.  General Manager, Ken Browne, said, “The IT knowledge-based industry has been one of the AMA’s strategic sectors from the beginning, and Mr. Hann’s commitment to Argentia and the Town of Placentia was instrumental in our attraction of this business that currently employs 60 plus people, together with the associated benefits surrounding the supply of products and services, to our community.”

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For more information, please contact:

NEW RELEASE

AMA Congratulates Province and Vale Inco

Press Release – January 30, 2009

For Immediate Release

Argentia, NL, -  On Thursday, January 29, 2009, the Provincial Government and Vale Inco reached an agreement-in-principle on amending the original 2002 Development Agreement for the construction of a commercial hydromet processing plant at Long Harbour.  The Argentia Management Authority Inc. (AMA), an organization responsible for the redevelopment of Argentia, offers their congratulations to Premier Williams, Minister Dunderdale, and Vale Inco on this very positive news announcement.
AMA Chairperson, Harvey Mercer is confident that this new agreement will mean greater benefits for the Province as well as for the business community and increased employment opportunities for our residents.  “AMA has continued an excellent working relationship with the Vale Inco Team for twelve years now, and we support the Premier and his government on this particular project because it will bring so many positive benefits and provide new growth opportunities for our local communities, businesses, and residents” said Chairperson Mercer.

AMA General Manager, Mr. Ken Browne, stated “this announcement brings a renewed certainty to Vale Inco’s Commercial Hydromet Processing Plant for the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, especially in light of the major downturn in the global economy and the cancellations or delays of many major projects elsewhere.”  Browne further added, “Local residents can be assured that there will be increased employment opportunities according to this welcomed announcement and businesses will be able to access the tremendous opportunities available during both the construction and operating phases of the project.”

AMA believes that Argentia with its superb port, fully serviced commercial and heavy industrial parks, and more than 3000 acres of relatively flat land, makes an ideal location for businesses wishing to establish or expand their operations to take advantage of this huge $2.2 billion project.  Browne said, “Argentia is ready for your business now, and yesterday’s announcement demonstrates that the economic future looks bright for the Town of Placentia and the surrounding communities.”    

 
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For more information, please contact:

Mr. Harvey Mercer Chairperson, or
Mr. Ken Browne, General Manager
Argentia Management Authority Inc.
P.O. Box 95
Argentia, NL Canada
A0B 1W0
Tel:  (709) 227-5502
Fax:  (709) 227-5592
Email:  argentiainfo@argentia.ca

HPI '07 Conference & Exhibition - September 25 - 27, 2007

On behalf of the Argentia Management Authority (AMA), we would like to welcome all of the delegates and exhibitors to the HPI ’07 Conference & Exhibition.  We invite you to drop by Booth #3 while you are at the show and we would be happy to speak to you about your business opportunities.

Also, if you wish to arrange a tour of Argentia, please contact us at (709) 227-5502 or email us at argentiainfo@argentia.ca.

The following is an article published in "The Charter" Newspaper July 24, 2005

Bright horizons for Argentia Sunset
AMA and Fitzgerald’s Pond park partner to establish RV park on former U.S. housing site

Kenn Oliver, The Charter

RVs such as these all the way from California set up shop at the College of the North Atlantic campus lot upon arriving Wednesday night. On their next visit, they’ll have a fully serviced RV park to meet their every need.

Armed with that knowledge and the desire to round out the Southwest Avalon tourism package, the AMA in partnership with Dave and Susan Bartlett of Fitzgerald’s Pond Park, officially announced the construction of a new RV park which will be aptly named Argentia Sunset Park.

AMA board member Hedley Burge says generally speaking the operation of such a service is traditionally not a great revenue generator. But he insists that the AMA is not concerned with profiteering in this venture, but rather a boost to the entire local area.

“This is what we were looking for with this, that it would not be good for a single person or group but for the community overall,” says Mr. Burge.

The park, located on the site formerly known as the 1000 housing area on Argentia’s Southside, will be able to accommodate 40 guests in 80 by 25 foot lots with 10 foot buffer zones between each. It will also boast all the necessary services – water, sewer and electrical – that most RVers have come to expect.

In addition, the building located at the park’s entrance will be renovated for management and to house showers and washrooms.

“All people want is a few minor services and a place where they can feel secure,” explains Mr. Bartlett who says while he’d like to be able to accommodate all visitors to his own private park, he simply does not have the space for the larger model of motor homes commonly used today.

Park Partners
Mr. Burge and Mr. Bartlett agree that the concept of an RV park is not a new one, but it took the right partnership to make it happen.

“The AMA does not have any experience in park operations,” says Mr. Burge, “whereas Dave and Sue have a good marketing plan already in place and they’ll take this and add it to their marketing scheme and promote it the same as Fitzgerald’s and they already know the business.”

“If there is success to be had this will be one of the main reasons for it.”

Placentia St. Mary’s MHA Felix Collins, on hand for the sod turning ceremony, says an RV park in Argentia is an ideal situation only made better by having the Barlett’s at the reigns.

“Fiztgerald’s Pond is a great facility and from what I can see, Dave and Sue have done a great job there,” says Mr. Collins, “but it isn’t big enough to take all the flow from the traffic so this is just a perfect match.”

Placentia Mayor Bill Hogan says it’s encouraging to see the Bartlett’s get involved with this project.

“They know what the demand is firsthand.

“They must see something there because all we could do before this was talk about it,” says the Mayor who says the park will have tremendous value for the town’s heritage, tourism and culture resume.

It’s easy to tell Mr. Bartlett has been chomping at the bit to get this underway and he admits to being ready to play his part in developing the full tourism potential of the region.

“I think the message is across, we just haven’t harnessed it yet,” says Mr. Bartlett. “It’s all here, we just need to harness it and put it together.”

Disappearing business
You don’t need to be an RVer to recognize the necessity of a park in the area to catch the ferry traffic. On late night arrivals, many of the disembarking passengers will pull in to the parking lot of the visitor information centre or the lot at the College of the North Atlantic campus.

“The reason they’re utilizing the local area is because there is absolutely nowhere else for them to put them,” says Mr. Bartlett who says most of those RVs are gone at the crack of dawn headed for other areas of the province.

“They’re not in a rush, they’re just following an itinerary that was given to them.”

The park unfortunately will not be completed in time to capitalize on the remainder of the 2006 tourist season, but will be ready to operate at full capacity next spring. In the meantime, Mr. Bartlett has been given the permission of the AMA to utilize a parking area in Argentia in the interim.

“Introduce the people that are coming that Argentia is an RV park now and hopefully even from that little bit it’ll give people a safe and secure parking area for this season,” Mr. Bartlett states.

Edward Collins Contracting was awarded the construction of the PARK which is expected to be a key piece of the AMA’s “Tourism Argentia” strategy by complementing the existing draws such as the Backland Trail, the 282 Coastal Defence Battery Guns and the Q-Driving Range.

“The AMA is very pleased to be able to do this and we think it will bode well for future developments whether it be museums or anything else that might develop in the area,” says Mr. Burge.

Mayor Hogan, who suggests that this is long overdue, says he’s been an outspoken critic of the AMA over the years, but is tremendously delighted to see this come to fruition.

“They do good things, and this is one of them!”

editor@thecharter.ca