For immediate release: 25 August 2006

BUSINESS RETENTION AND EXPANSION TO BOOST JOBS,
OPPORTUNITY IN RURAL ONTARIO
McGuinty Government Invests In Norwich

NORWICH - The McGuinty government is helping to boost jobs and employment opportunities in Norwich, Leona Dombrowsky, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced today.

"The McGuinty government is committed to creating new jobs and new opportunities for families in rural Ontario," said Dombrowsky. "Today's announcement demonstrates that, by partnering with the Township of Norwich Chamber of Commerce, we are helping local businesses succeed and grow."

The government will contribute $16,000 to help the Township of Norwich Chamber of Commerce implement a Business Retention and Expansion (BR+E) initiative. The project will involve the development of a strategy to increase the competitiveness of local business and create new opportunities for employment through community involvement and input. Project partners include the Township of Norwich Chamber of Commerce, the Corporation of the Township of Norwich, Oxford Small Business Support Centre Inc., and the Norwich Downtown Improvement Area (BIA).

"This government support along with that of the four sponsoring partners, will be a positive force for change in the economic climate for our area through our new BR+E project," said Andrew Malcolm, director of the Township of Norwich Chamber of Commerce. "This strategy will enable greater citizen involvement with our business community, and we will identify opportunities for increasing the competitiveness and expansion of our existing businesses, strengthening our community's identity as an ideal place for businesses to locate."

Other government initiatives that demonstrate the McGuinty government is on the side of families in rural Ontario include:

• Investing in rural health care, including 17 new community health centres and seven satellite CHCs that serve rural communities
• Recognizing the unique needs of rural schools with $230 million for school repairs, library books and transition programs
• Investing over $22 million in rural communities through the Rural Economic Development Program.

Today's investment was made through the Rural Economic Development (RED) Program, which invests in projects that support sustainable rural economies and community partnerships - a key part of the government's plan for rural Ontario.

Through the RED program, the Ontario government and its rural partners are building stronger communities that work better for the people who live in them.

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Contacts:
Christopher Flavelle
Minister's Office
416 326-3072

Brian Cardy
Rural Investments Branch
519 826-3787