21 May 2010
Kentville, Nova Scotia
Greg Kerr, Member of Parliament for West Nova participated today in the official ground-breaking for the Kings Opportunity Service Centre in Kentville, Nova Scotia. Mr. Kerr attended the event on behalf of the Honourable Keith Ashfield, Minister of National Revenue, Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway.
"Our government's support for the construction of the Kings Opportunity Service Centre will benefit the Kentville area by providing the community with a local facility dedicated to the training and the employment readiness of hard working Canadians and their families," said Mr. Kerr. "This initiative will strengthen local economic development capacity, while helping to remove some barriers to employment that exist in the area."
The federal investment supports the creation of an environmentally sustainable, 18,000-square-foot service centre that will offer a variety of educational and employment programs. The multi-purpose facility includes classroom and office space for other community service organizations.
Federal funding for the project, which totals $502,000, is provided through the Community Adjustment Fund (CAF), a key economic stimulus initiative contained in the Government of Canada's Economic Action Plan.
"The Kings Opportunity Service Centre is a much anticipated addition to our community," said Bill Travis, Executive Director, PeopleWorx Society. "The Centre will improve the quality of employment services and will help residents become more successful in the job market."
The PeopleWorx Society is a non-profit, registered charity formed in 1986. The Society delivers a broad range of employment-related services and programs to the residents of Hants, Kings, Annapolis and Digby Counties. The creation of the Kings Opportunity Service Centre represents an expansion to these existing services.
Canada's Economic Action Plan provided $1 billion over two years for the CAF program, to address the short-term economic needs of Canadian communities impacted by the global economic downturn. This national economic stimulus initiative supports projects that create jobs and maintain employment in and around communities that have experienced significant job losses and lack alternative employment opportunities. The CAF program is delivered in the region by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA).
For information on Canada's Economic Action Plan, please visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.
FOR BROADCAST USE:
MP Greg Kerr, on behalf of ACOA Minister Keith Ashfield, today celebrated along with the community of Kentville the official ground breaking for the Kings Opportunity Service Centre.
The Government of Canada is supporting the project with an investment of $502,000 provided through the Economic Action Plan's Community Adjustment Fund.
The 18,000-square-foot facility will offer a variety of educational programs and employment programs and features classrooms and office space.
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INFORMATION:
Denise Arsenault
Senior Communications Officer
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
902-426-9304 / 902-456-3066 (cell)
Email : Denise.Arsenault@acoa-apeca.gc.ca
