April 06, 2009
Quesnel, British Columbia
Today, Dick Harris, Member of Parliament for Cariboo - Prince George, on behalf of the Honourable Lynne Yelich, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification, announced funding for the Cariboo region to stimulate and grow the local economy.
"Our Government is proud to invest in these local efforts which will create new opportunities and new jobs," said Mr. Harris. "By growing local industries and providing increased industrial lands, we will help build a more solid economic foundation for the Cariboo region."
Today's first investment of $220,000 will support the Cariboo-Central Interior Poultry Producers Association to create a mobile poultry-processing unit that will help diversify the local economy and encourage growth in the poultry industry. The project will also increase the availability of safe, inspected, locally grown food for residents, and help meet a growing demand for poultry in our region.
"The contribution from the Government of Canada is instrumental in assisting producers to move forward in their operations," said Cariboo-Central Interior Poultry Producers Association President, Christine Piltz. "It will also help to facilitate agriculture diversification by providing opportunities to small scale farmers in the region."
A second contribution of $170,000 will go towards the Quesnel Community and Economic Development Corporation. They will complete the design, the engineering and related activities for the development of approximately 18 acres of city-owned land, which is designated for light industrial development. This project will help create 16 serviced, market-ready, light industrial lots to full subdivision standards. The project will also identify and secure private and/or public-private partnerships for funding more development and marketing.
"This is a project that will help the City promote and develop its industrial land base," said Mayor Mary Sjostrom. "By having accessible and affordable land available, we can attract investors with a goal of further strengthening and diversifying our economy."
Funding of more than $390,000 towards the Quesnel Community Economic Development Corporation and the Cariboo-Central Interior Poultry Producers Association is provided through Western Economic Diversification under the Community Economic Diversification Initiative (CEDI), a component of the federal Mountain Pine Beetle Program.
Managed by Western Economic Diversification, CEDI will invest more than $33 million over two years towards projects in communities most at risk from the Mountain Pine Beetle infestation. The program supports a wide range of projects that further economic growth, job creation and future community sustainability.
The CEDI program is part of the Government of Canada's $200 million comprehensive response to mitigate the short- and long-term effects of the Mountain Pine Beetle infestation on B.C.'s forestry sector. This federal Mountain Pine Beetle Program is led by Natural Resources Canada, in collaboration with Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) and Transport Canada.
Western Economic Diversification Canada works with the provinces, industry associations, and communities to promote the development and diversification of the western economy, coordinates federal economic activities in the West and represents the interests of western Canadians in national decision-making.
For more information on the federal Mountain Pine Beetle Program, please visit: http://mpb.cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/
For additional information, contact:
Donna Howes
Communications Manager, British Columbia
Western Economic Diversification Canada
Telephone: 604-666-1318
Cell: 604-505-6616
Christine Piltz
President
Cariboo-Central Interior Poultry Producers Association
Telephone: 250-992-5205
WD Toll-Free Number: 1 888 338-WEST (9378)
Website: WD is online at www.wd-deo.gc.ca.
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