High-tech companies land federal cash

One focuses on the undersea world and the other is playing its trade on the air waves.

But the two St. Catharines companies share something in common -- they've both received funding boosts from the federal government to become more competitive in the global marketplace.

St. Catharines MPRick Dykstra announced Monday morning that Ottawa will give Convergent Telecom $185,250 through the government's community adjustment fund, while Shark Marine Technologies Inc. will get $61,250.

Convergent will use its funding to finish developing and then market two new software applications for Blackberry users.

"This funding is going to help us drive the business forward and really be a viable entity 10 years from now," company president Roland Bissell said, shortly after Dykstra made the announcement at Shark Marine's Nihan Drive location.

Later this month, Convergent will launch two Blackberry apps aimed at business people -- MileageGeniePro, designed to help track expenses, and FormsGeniePro, which can replace virtually any paper form with a digital version.

Bissell launched Convergent 13 years ago with two employees in the basement of his house.

The company, which works closely with Bell Canada and Bell Mobility, has grown to 16 employees who work out of a King Street office.

Bissell, a self-confessed Blackberry addict, said he's confidents the apps his company will soon launch will help it expand even further.

If things go according to plan, convergent will need to hire at least two more staff and possibly four by summer, he said.

"If all goes well, we'll be two or three times the size we are now within a year," Bissell said.

Shark Marine plans to use its funding to attain ISO certification, which will allow it to compete for more international contracts for its high-tech under-water imaging and exploration equipment.

The 26-year-old company already has extensive contracts with international clients, but being able to prove the company meets criteria set by the International Organization for Standardization ought to open the door to more, said Wendy Garrington, who runs the company with husband, Jim.

"A lot of clients, such as large firms and governments, they require ISO certification now," she said.

"It will also give us more of a structural base for our training."

Jim Garrington praised the support the company has received from all levels of government, including the funding offered up by Ottawa.

"This funding is going to help us on the global market, no question," he said.

Dykstra said the federal government is committed to helping Niagara foster the growth of its high-tech manufacturing sector.

"It's a focused way of approaching where we need to go," he said.

"While we still have a way to go, we're getting there day by day."