For Immediate Release
September 4, 2007

McGuinty Government Invests In Prince Edward County

New Funding To Help Increase Visitors to the Area

PICTON - The McGuinty government is supporting growth and economic expansion in Prince Edward County by investing in a plan to attract tourism and investors to the area, Leona Dombrowsky, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced today.

"This funding will help Prince Edward County build on its current success as a leading tourist destination," said Dombrowsky. "The restoration of historic buildings, enhancement of its parks and improved promotion will help this community market themselves to the world as a must visit place."

The province will contribute $357,293 to help the Picton Business Improvement Area Association and its partners, The Corporation of the County of Prince Edward, Royal Canadian Legion Branch 78 and the Wellington Rotary Club, with the revitalization of downtown Picton, enhancement of Cenotaph Park, and improvements to the Wellington Village Beach Park.

"With the contribution from the Government of Ontario, we will be able to improve the appearance and amenities of our downtown and park areas," said Lyndsay Richmond, project coordinator for the Picton Business Improvement Area Association. "This funding will also go a long way to help us be able to promote the community through improved signage, media campaigns and festivals."

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

  • Investing $2.7 million for the Rural Summer Jobs Service Program (2006-07), which helps rural businesses provide summer employment to more than 3,600 rural youth
  • Providing an additional $70 million for the Rural Infrastructure Investment Initiative. This means a total of $140 million will be available for improvements to water systems, roads, bridges and other priorities
  • Providing $400 million as part of the $1.2-billion Move Ontario initiative for municipal road and bridge maintenance and construction projects; included in this funding is $188 million for rural municipalities and $56 million for municipalities in northern Ontario.

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 $45.1 million in 139 projects, representing a total investment of $477.4 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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