Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (MRIF)
Saint-Urbain, March 20, 2009 – Nathalie Normandeau, Deputy Premier of Quebec and Ministre des Affaires municipales, des Régions et de l’Occupation du territoire, today joined Jacques Gourde, Member of Parliament for Lotbinière−Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, in announcing that Saint-Urbain Parish in the Regional County Municipality (RCM) of Charlevoix will receive $292,510 in joint government financial assistance under the Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (MRIF) to add a new sector to its regional industrial park.
The project involves extending the main road that runs through the existing industrial park by 350 linear metres and installing water mains from the end of the Phase I development to the new sector. Once completed, the industrial park will be in a position to offer 13 new lots ranging in area from 5,000 to 7,000 square metres.
“The goal of this expansion project is to develop industrial space whose locational factors make it possible to minimize costs and impacts on the local landscape, agriculture and environment. Completion of Phase II of this regional industrial park in the Charlevoix RCM is a structuring project whose indirect spinoffs will enable the region to attract investors and, by extension, further diversify its labour market,”stated Minister Normandeau.
“This Saint-Urbain industrial park expansion project will be a key asset for the region and its economic vitality. It will ensure that the municipality is able to count on reliable infrastructure to develop its business activities, with an industrial park that is conducive to entrepreneurship. Strengthening the area’s drawing power among investors will build leverage for attracting new projects and, consequently, creating new jobs,”added Jacques Gourde.
Development of the Saint-Urbain regional industrial park is the fruit of a wide-scale analysis, reflection and coordination process carried out by Charlevoix socioeconomic stakeholders. In fall 2006, the Parish of Saint-Urbain undertook development of the first phase of the industrial park. When the six industrial lots sold quickly, the Saint-Urbain municipal council decided to move forward with the development of Phase II.
Completion of this project will necessitate a total eligible investment of $438,766 under component 3 of the MRIF. The Government of Quebec and Government of Canada will each contribute $146,255 toward this work, for a total of $292,510 in combined government funding, while the Parish of Saint-Urbain will itself assume $146,256 of the project’s costs.
Saint-Urbain Mayor Simon Bouchard said he is delighted at the positive impact this work promises to have on the industrial diversification of the park, the drawing power of the parish and the economic and tourism development of the Charlevoix area.
The Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund is a cost-sharing initiative of the Government of Quebec and Government of Canada that makes $470 million in funding available to Quebec municipalities and non-governmental organizations. With the financial participation of these municipalities and organizations, this initiative could result in the execution of more than $700 million in infrastructure work. The objectives of the MRIF are to improve community infrastructure, the quality of the environment and citizens’quality of life, and to promote long-term economic growth.
The program, which is in force until March 31, 2010, is administered by Quebec’s Ministère des Affaires municipales, des Régions et de l’Occupation du territoire. Canada Economic Development is responsible for delivering the federal portion of the MRIF on behalf of the Government of Canada.
-30-
Sources:
Johanne Levesque
Communications Advisor
Communications Branch
Ministère des Affaires municipales, des
Régions et de l’Occupation du territoire
514-873-6910
Information:
Louise Quintin
Press Secretary
Office of the Deputy Premier and
Ministre des Affaires municipales,
des Régions et de l’Occupation du territoire
418-691-2050
Éric Lefebvre
Senior Assistant, Communications
Office of the Honourable Denis Lebel
Canada Economic Development
613-608-7906
Catherine Vallée
Communications
Canada Economic Development
514 283-0368
