Rural Economic Development (RED) Program
News Release
For Immediate Release August 28, 2007
McGuinty Government Supports Community Revitalization in Cornwall
Investment Will Create New Jobs and Attract More Visitors
to Downtown Area
CORNWALL - The McGuinty government is investing in a downtown revitalization
project that will boost Cornwall's business and tourism activity and generate
an estimated 100 new jobs for the community Jim Brownell, MPP for Stormont-Dundas-Charlottenburgh
announced today on behalf of Leona Dombrowsky, Minister of Agriculture,
Food and Rural Affairs.
"Our government is committed to working with local communities to
enhance their economic and cultural enrichment opportunities," said
Brownell. "By investing in Cornwall's Heart of the City project,
we are helping to implement some of the community improvement policies
set out in the City's Official Plan. This will generate new jobs and new
opportunities for local residents and businesses."
The province is supporting the project with a $137,000 contribution to
Cornwall's Heart of the City (a committee of the Downtown Business Improvement
Association) and its partners, the City of Cornwall, Le Village Business
Improvement Association, and the Chamber of Commerce.
The funding will help the community conduct feasibility studies to establish
the location of a museum and examine the potential use of a solar energy
system in the downtown area. It will also help identify architectural,
parking and landscaping improvement opportunities.
"The City of Cornwall and Heart of The City are pleased with the
support of the provincial government," said Bryan Merkley, past chair
of Heart of the City and Downtown BIA. "This project assists the
completion of Heart of the City's Vision which George Assaly Lane exemplifies."
This is just one more example of how, working together, Ontarians have
achieved results in rural Ontario. Other examples include:
- Providing $472 million in 2007 to rural municipalities through the
Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund
- 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
- Launching the $12.5 million 'Pick Ontario Freshness" strategy
to support local promotions and commodity-specific programs by building
interest in all Ontario foods and raising general consumer awareness
and demand for Ontario foods in stores and in restaurants.
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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