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For Immediate Release
July 24, 2007

MCGUINTY GOVERNMENT SUPPORTS MEAFORD ECONOMIC STUDY

Municipality Exploring Area Economic And Employment Opportunities

MEAFORD - The McGuinty government is helping the Meaford District Chamber of Commerce identify new opportunities to strengthen the community's economy, Leona Dombrowsky, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, announced today.

"In order for a community to stay strong and prosperous, it must work co-operatively to promote economic growth in the area," said Dombrowsky. "This initiative will study the current business and employment environment in Meaford, and identify ways to enhance it for local residents and industry."

The province will contribute $13,140 to help the Meaford District Chamber of Commerce and its partner, the Corporation of the Municipality of Meaford, implement their Business Retention and Expansion Action Plan, which will help identify new economic, employment and business opportunities in the community.

"The community-based project that we are undertaking, in partnership with the Municipality of Meaford, will help to determine the broader needs and concerns of our local businesses," said James McIntosh, economic development coordinator for the Meaford and District Chamber of Commerce. "Identifying economic areas where we are strong, and looking at opportunities that we may not have considered, can only lead to a more successful and competitive community."

This is just one more example of how, working together, Ontarians have achieved results in rural Ontario. Other examples include:

  • Providing $12.5 million to the new Pick Ontario Freshness marketing strategy, which includes a consumer awareness campaign designed to increase interest and demand for local foods across the province, expands the Foodland Ontario program to more fresh food products and boosts the Savour Ontario program in fine dining and vacation establishments

  • Providing an additional $70 million for the Rural Infrastructure Investment Initiative, meaning a total of $140 million will be available for improvements to water systems, roads, bridge and other priorities

  • Providing $472 million in 2007 to rural municipalities through the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund

  • Recognizing innovation in the province's agriculture sector by creating the five-year, $2.5-million Premier's Awards for Agri-Food Innovation Excellence. In 2007, 55 awards totaling $425,000 were presented at events across the province.

Today's investment was made through the Rural Economic Development (RED) Program, which invests in community-based projects that support sustainable rural economies in three priority areas: improved access to health care services, revitalized communities and downtowns, and enhanced skills training.

Through the RED Program, the province has invested $33 million in 118 projects, representing a total investment of $204.6 million in rural Ontario, since 2003. The Ontario government and its partners are building strong rural communities that work better for the people who live in them.

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Contacts:
Kelly Synnott
Minister's Office
416 326-6439

Brent Ross
Communications Branch
416 326-9342

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