Rural Economic Development (RED) Program
News Release

For Immediate Release

November 3, 2004

Rural Ontario Communities in Eastern Ontario Share

New Economic Development Tool

Ontario Invests In Best Practices Database

Martintown -- The Ontario government is supporting community revitalization in five eastern Ontario municipalities by investing in new data analysis tools that will promote economic development and information sharing, John Gerretsen, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing announced today.

"The McGuinty government is partnering with the Ontario East Economic Development Commission, the towns of Deep River and Smiths Falls, Prince Edward County, and the cities of Pembroke and Peterborough to provide resources that will make real, positive improvements to their economic development activities," Gerretsen said.

The Ontario government will contribute $33,000 to the creation of an economic development database. The database will offer a repository of community best practices and economic data that among partnering communities can share. The data will also be linked to the province's Rural Economic Development Data and Intelligence information resource, available to all municipalities and the public at www.reddi.mah.gov.on.ca .

"We are delighted to have the support of the provincial government for this exciting project," said Stephen Hyndman, Ontario East Economic Development Commission president. "This project is part of our plan to provide our communities with the right fiscal tools to start new downtown revitalization programs and reassess strategies of existing programs."

Today's investment was made through Ontario's Rural Economic Development (RED) program, which invests in projects that support sustainable rural economies and community partnerships. Through the RED program, the provincial government and its partners are delivering real, positive change that will make rural Ontario strong, healthy and prosperous.

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