For release: August 14, 2004
Province Gives Rural Communities Tools to Grow
Investment in Ridgetown Centre Will Lead to a More
Competitive Agri-Food Sector
CHATHAM-KENT - The Ontario government is fostering a better quality
of life in our rural communities by supporting training and applied research
in the agricultural sector, Steve Peters, Minister of Agriculture and
Food, announced today.
"Our government is pleased to be a partner in this state-of-the-art
Rural Development Centre at Ridgetown College," said Peters. "Many
members of the Ridgetown area community, led by the Ridgetown College
Agri-Food Foundation, have joined forces to make the centre a reality,
and residents throughout the region will reap the benefits."
The province is investing $2.5 million in the centre to help Ontario's
agri-food sector become more competitive. The facility will offer leading-edge
educational and outreach programs, better preparing the next generation
to fully participate in an innovative agri-food industry. Through training
and technology transfer for the surrounding community, the centre will
also encourage new agricultural-based initiatives that could create new
market opportunities for locally grown products.
"We greatly appreciate the commitment the provincial government
has made to this initiative," said Dennis Jack, Chair of the Ridgetown
College Agri-Food Foundation. "This is great news for students, the
agriculture industry, and the Chatham-Kent community."
"This Centre at Ridgetown College is a vital addition that will
help us better serve the community and the agri-food sector," said
Alastair Summerlee, President of the University of Guelph. "I am
grateful to Minister Peters and the Ontario government for supporting
this initiative."
"The Ontario government is working to build stronger communities
through investments such as this Rural Development Centre," Peters
said. "We're confident that the programs and facilities available
at the centre will serve the community, its people, and its economy well
into the future."
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Contacts:
Mary Devorski
Minister's Office
416-326-3077
416-606-8303 (Mobile)
Dr. Maurice Bitran
Ministry Section
519-826-4172
