Saint-Prime, Quebec, March 20, 2009 − The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of State for Canada Economic Development, today announced the awarding of $47,500 in non-repayable funding to L'Échappée Bleue, a solidarity cooperative for sustainable tourism. Awarded through the Community Economic Diversification Initiative –Vitality (CEDI-V), this funding will enable the organization to operate a youth hostel and tourist cabins.
The aim of this L'Échappée Bleue project is to improve the services available to customers by building common areas and a meeting room and furnishing and equipping the hostel and cabins. The work will necessitate an overall investment of $100,000 and result in the creation of five new jobs.
“The youth hostel, a popular lodging concept throughout France, answers the need raised by local stakeholders for increased tourist accommodations along the periphery of Lac Saint-Jean. This is sure to be welcome news for cyclists travelling the Véloroute des Bleuets, especially those tourists from overseas who are already well acquainted with this type of lodging,“explained the Minister of State. “Tourism is a key source of economic diversification for the Saguenay –Lac-Saint-Jean region. This youth-initiated project is perfectly suited to the Véloroute and promises to further build on the region's tourism drawing power.”
Founded in 2006, L'Échappée Bleue, a social economy enterprise, employs more than 20 people during the summer season. Funding of the cooperative's project has been made possible by the recent relaxing of the terms and conditions governing Canada Economic Development's support measure for tourist accommodation facilities.
“Like many other Quebec communities, the municipality of Saint-Prime—home of L'Échappée Bleue—is reeling from the after-shocks of the forest crisis compounded by the effects of the current financial crisis. In light of these extraordinary circumstances, the Government of Canada has adopted an economic action plan to stimulate the national economy, mitigate the impacts of the global recession on Canadians and ensure the long-term growth of the regions,”the Minister of State concluded.
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Sources:
Nadia Marceau
Communications
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 418-668-4602 or 1-800-463-9808
Cell.: 418-321-0295
E-mail: nadia.marceau@dec-ced.gc.ca
Éric Lefebvre
Senior Special Assistant, Communications
Office of the Honourable Denis Lebel
Canada Economic Development
Cell.: 613-608-7906
E-mail: eric.lefebvre@dec-ced.gc.ca
