Mohamed Awad first went into the door business about 15 years ago when he started a company in his home country of Egypt.
He and his family recently moved to Courtenay, where he has started a company called Innova Doors. He did so under the auspices of the BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP), which intends to help meet economic development needs of regional communities, and to encourage investments outside urban areas.
“We have to submit a plan for them (government), and we have to fulfill this plan,” said Awad, who is married with four children.
Along with encouraging business, he said the PNP program creates employment opportunities.
“It will be a mutual benefit to both,” said Awad, who employs five local people. “I need to make a business, and also people need to make a living.”
The business supplies and installs residential garage doors, commercial and residential overhead sectional doors, and automated gates.
“We’re mainly dealing with automation,” said Richard Suarez, Innova’s operation manager. “We’re in that age where technology is growing.”
Awad notes that his product provide security and welfare, while also “reducing the manpower effort for automation.”
In time, the company will become more involved in the community by way of the Chamber of Commerce and other events/organizations.
Innova Doors is located at 180 North Island Hwy.
FMI: innovadoorsltd.com