The Burin Peninsula will benefit from a number of economic development initiatives as a result of support from the Community Adjustment Fund (CAF), a key economic stimulus initiative contained in the Government of Canada's recession fighting Economic Action Plan.
The Honourable Keith Ashfield, Minister of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), today announced an investment of just over $1.2 million for five individual projects at Marystown, Fortune and St. Lawrence.
“As a follow-up to my visit to the Burin Peninsula in April of this year and my working tour of the province last week, I am pleased to announce funding for these important economic development projects,” said Minister Ashfield. “Our government has invested significant resources through our Economic Action Plan to strengthen Canada's economic position and to respond with unprecedented urgency to ensure funding flows as quickly as possible to these community economic development projects.”
The Town of Fortune will expand the Fortune Head Interpretation Centre with assistance of $263,229 from the Community Adjustment Fund. The Town of Fortune will provide $40,497. The building expansion will increase capacity at the centre, enabling it to improve programs and activities, thus increasing revenue and long-term employment opportunities.
The Harbour Authority of Fortune will make improvements to the harbour area and ferry terminal by erecting a fence and extending lighting in the ferry terminal parking lot. Fortune serves as the terminus for the ferry service to the French Islands of St. Pierre and Miquelon. The project will receive $41,766 from the Government of Canada through CAF, as well as $6,426 from the harbour authority.
The Town of Marystown will continue with its expansion of the new marine industrial park. Initial funding of $1.15 million for this project was announced by Minister Ashfield during a visit to the Burin Peninsula on April 16. This additional funding will enable the town to add more sites to the industrial park. The Government of Canada, through ACOA, will provide an additional $708,841 for the project. Further funding of $88,605 will be provided by the town through cash and in-kind support.
“Our investments in this project will help the region secure the heavy industrial capacity required for further growth and development of its marine services sector which is a major contributor to the economy of the entire regions,” said Minister Ashfield.
St. Gabriel's Hall Committee will receive $134,560 to assist in the restoration of the facility in Marystown. Once completed, the renovated hall will provide an improved facility for the performing arts in the Burin Peninsula area and complement existing cultural and heritage infrastructure on the peninsula. Originally built in the early 1900s as a church hall for St. Gabriel's Parish, the building has been run by the community-based St. Gabriel's Hall Committee since 2005.
The Three L Training and Employment Board, a non-profit organization set-up to assist challenged needs individuals in gaining employment in the communities of St. Lawrence, Lawn and Little St. Lawrence, will receive $109,498 to upgrade its fluorspar jewellery making operation. The funding will allow the organization to install a new ventilation system and construct an extension to their existing building, which will house a gift shop, finishing facilities and a storage area. This will enable the reorganization of the main production area, and increase productivity for the clients of the program.
Over the next two years, CAF will deliver a total of $1 billion to the local economies of communities throughout Canada.
Non-profit organizations; post-secondary institutions; individuals; co-operatives; small and medium-sized enterprises; First Nations governments; and provincial and municipal governments that have eligible projects that can be completed before March 31, 2011 are invited to submit proposals.
Individuals interested in learning more about how to apply for funding under CAF are encouraged to contact their local ACOA office. For more information regarding the CAF application process, please consult ACOA's website at www.acoa-apeca.gc.ca .
For information on Canada's Economic Action Plan, please visit www.actionplan.gc.ca .
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Keith Ashfield, Minister of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, announced federal funding of just over $1.2 million for five projects on the Burin Peninsula with support from the Community Adjustment Fund a key federal economic stimulus initiative.
The five projects include two in the Fortune area – just over $263,000 for the expansion of the Fortune Head Interpretation Centre and just under $42,000 for improvements at the harbour and ferry terminal operated by the Harbour Authority of Fortune.
The announcements include two for Marystown – including just over $700,000 in additional funds to complete the development of 14 lots in the new Marystown marine industrial park. Minister Ashfield and Marystown Mayor Sam Synard announced initial federal funding of $1.15 million for the industrial park when the Minister visited Marystown on April 16. The initial funding has allowed Marystown to begin development the first phase of the marine industrial park to support the growing marine services sector on the Burin Peninsula. The second project announced for Marystown is a contribution of just over $134,000 for the St. Gabriel's Hall Committee to complete the restoration of the century-old parish hall, which is now serving the community as a performing arts facility.
The fifth project announced by Minister Ashfield was a contribution of $109,000 to the Three L Training and Employment Board, a non-profit organization which assists individuals with challenging needs in St. Lawrence, Lawn and Little St. Lawrence. The organization runs a fluorspar jewellery making operation. The funding will allow Three L Training to install a new ventilation system and construct an extension to their existing building to add a gift shop and increased storage area.
Those eligible to apply to the Community Adjustment Fund include: non-profit organizations; post-secondary institutions; individuals; co-operatives; small-and-medium sized enterprises; First Nations governments; and provincial and municipal governments. Projects must be completed before March 31, 2011. Interested applicants are asked to contact their nearest ACOA office.
INFORMATION: Erin Filliter Office of the Minister of State (ACOA) 613-941-7241 Doug Burgess Director, Public Affairs ACOA-NL 709-772-2935
