For immediate release: November 6, 2006

Revitalization Initiative To Rejuvenate
Four Downtown Areas

Marketing and Re-Branding Campaign Will Help Attract Tourists

Tweed - The McGuinty government is helping the municipalities of Tweed, Centre Hastings, Marmora and Lake and Stirling-Rawdon rejuvenate their downtown areas, Leona Dombrowsky, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and MPP for Hastings-Frontenac-Lennox and Addington announced today.

"The McGuinty government is helping to revitalize our rural communities," said Dombrowsky. "This project will bring more visitors to Tweed, Centre Hastings, Marmora and Lake and Stirling-Rawdon, strengthening the local economy."

The government will contribute $100,000 to help the Municipality of Marmora and Lake, and its partners the Municipality of Tweed, Municipality of Centre Hastings, and Township of Stirling-Rawdon revitalize their communities. These four municipalities will focus on rejuvenating the downtown areas with streetscape physical improvements including new banners, planters and lighting, and website development with a "shop locally" campaign.

"On behalf of the main street management teams, we want to thank the provincial government for its support on this important project," said Andrew Redden, Main Street project coordinator for all four partnering municipalities. "With our strong partnership, we have the potential to increase tourist traffic, attract new business, and create long-term jobs for the area."

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

• Creating an integrated One-Stop training and employment system that will ensure people in rural areas have better access to skills training and labour market services that are tailored to the needs of rural communities;
• Recognizing the unique needs of rural schools with $260 million for school repairs, library books and transition programs;
• Investing over $26 million in rural communities through the Rural Economic Development (RED) 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

Brent Ross
Communications Branch
416-326-9342