For Immediate Release
September 5, 2007

McGuinty Government Supports Hastings Highlands

Municipality To Develop A Commercial Revitalization Strategy

L'AMABLE - The McGuinty government is helping the Municipality of Hastings Highlands evaluate the current status of its retail areas and develop a revitalization strategy, Leona Dombrowsky, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced today.

"A strong community has successful enterprise, stable jobs, and community involvement," said Dombrowsky. "This project will help Hastings Highlands identify the current environment and provide the necessary plan to help it take the next step to successful revitalization."

The province will contribute $178,000 to help the municipality and its partners, the Town of Bancroft and the Township of Wollaston, survey retail businesses as well as residents. The information collected will help the communities develop action plans to address local economic development needs.

"We are happy that the province has stepped up to help us," said Ronald Emond, mayor for the Municipality of Hastings Highlands. "This much-needed evaluation and action plan will identify areas that need improvement and give us the direction to move forward to make the necessary changes to attract business."

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

  • 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
  • Investing $67.5 million over five years for source protection planning to help protect drinking water. Initially $7 million will be provided to help Ontario farmers and small rural businesses take action to reduce threats to local drinking water sources
  • 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.

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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