St. Quentin, New Brunswick - The Town of St. Quentin will receive an additional $247,784 contribution from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) to complete the construction of a replica of its historic railway building. The project's budget had to be adjusted upwards due to higher than expected plumbing, electrical system and labour costs. The municipality has also contracted an engineering firm to provide the expertise and resources needed to complete the project. "The Government of Canada believes in the importance of the old St. Quentin railway building reconstruction project, as it will become a tourism infrastructure of benefit to the entire region," explained Jean-Claude D'Amours, MP for Madawaska-Restigouche, speaking on behalf of the Honourable Joseph McGuire, Minister of ACOA. "It is imperative to invest in initiatives that contribute to the economic development of our rural communities. The Government of Canada, through programs like ACOA's Strategic Community Investment Fund (SCIF), is committed to supporting regional and sectoral development in order to make the economy more vibrant." "We have worked for many years on this project, which is is at the heart of tourism, the economy and the history of Saint Quentin. We are pleased that ACOA is supporting us in the reconstruction of this historic station," said Saint- Quentin mayor Robert Beaulieu. The planned replica of the historic railway building will provide offices for community groups as well as house a four-season tourist information centre. The building will be home to many of the municipality's cultural and social organizations, the local chamber of commerce as well as an interpretation centre offering information on the town's development. In addition to providing an invaluable information service for visitors to the area, the new facility will enable St. Quentin to promote local activities and festivals, showcase the town as a gateway to the Appalachian Mountain Range, including Mount Carleton, as well as develop an agritourism product focusing on the forestry industry, agriculture and maple syrup production. Efforts will also be aimed at promoting the Restigouche River and attracting snowmobile enthusiasts to St. Quentin. This new contribution brings ACOA's total investment in the project to $609,284. The Strategic Community Investment Fund (SCIF) is designed to create economic development opportunities in Atlantic Canada communities. -30- Valérie Poulin Director of Communications Office of the Honourable Joseph McGuire Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (613) 941 7241 Suzanne Coulombe Town of St. Quentin (506) 235-2425 Stéphanie Bilodeau Senior Communications Officer ACOA NB (506) 452-3304
