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| News Release Index |
News Release
For immediate releases May 11, 2001
GLACE BAY'S DOWNTOWN AND YMCA ENTERPRISE CENTRE ENHANCED WITH GOVERNMENT OF CANADA ASSISTANCE
GLACE BAY, N.S. -- Glace Bay's downtown will be enhanced and the Cape Breton YMCA Enterprise Centre will modernize through two projects that have received assistance from the Government of Canada.
Glace Bay is celebrating the Centennial of its founding this year and the community's downtown will be enhanced and revitalized thanks to a unique project which is being spearheaded by the Glace Bay Centennial Committee. Portable parks will be constructed and used to enhance the overall appearance of the downtown core. The parks will transform vacant lots into park-like settings with the installation of patio blocks, trees, shrubs and flowers in large planters, benches and other park amenities. The port-a-parks will make excellent use of unused areas of the downtown but still leave the lots quickly available for commercial use.
The total estimated cost of the project is $350,375 and Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation will contribute $190,000 through the Fisheries Restructuring Adjustment Measures (FRAM) Program. The Cape Breton Regional Municipality will contribute $94,475 which is the estimated cost of maintaining the parks on Commercial Street once they are developed.
The project will include the material, design, training and labour associated with constructing the parks. Seven 13-week construction jobs will be created.
The Cape Breton Family YMCA will modernize its Enterprise Centre through upgrades to the building including the incubation areas, offices, training facilities, meeting and common areas. The parking area will also be upgraded. The project will help the centre better meet the needs of the community and provide an appropriate environment for potential entrepreneurs.
The total estimated cost of the project is $300,000 and ECBC will contribute $225,000 through the Business Development Program. HRDC will contribute $49,371 and the Cape Breton YMCA will contribute $25,629. Three new full time jobs will be created.
"The celebrations to mark the Centennial of Glace Bay will be enhanced through the portable park project. In the long term, the revitalization of the downtown will inspire community pride and encourage additional economic activity and spin off benefits." said Rodger Cuzner, Member of Parliament for Bras D'Or - Cape Breton, speaking on behalf of the Honourable Robert Thibault, Minister of State for ECBC and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and the Honourable Jane Stewart, HRDC Minister. "The YMCA Enterprise Centre project will modernize a facility that has consistently provided unique entrepreneurial skills enhancement and training in Cape Breton since 1987 and serves as a model for other communities. The Government of Canada's partnership with these community minded organizations will bring many benefits to Glace Bay and Cape Breton Island."
"Volunteers have worked very hard to mark a special year in the life of their hometown with significant events. These improvements to the downtown's appearance will help make those events even more memorable and also make a long term contribution to the community. We are confident the parks will be a catalyst for improvements to the downtown and reinforce the citizens' pride in their community. This assistance from the Government of Canada for our efforts is appreciated." said Allan MacIntyre, Glace Bay Centennial Committee 2001.
The Committee was established to plan and organize events for the Centennial year celebrations including upgrading and constructing facilities that will inspire the Centennial spirit. The Centennial celebrations run from July 11-22.
"The modernization project will enhance the YMCA Enterprise Centre's ability to respond to the needs of the community and build on our strengths," said Vince MacGillivary, Director, YMCA Enterprise Centre, "The Centre has always been successful in developing strong and effective partnerships with community, private and government organizations and this project is another example of that. The Government of Canada's assistance is vital to our ability to continue our innovative and responsive programming."
The Cape Breton YMCA Enterprise Centre, a program of the Cape Breton Family YMCA, provides and maintains support programs and services as well as opportunities for growth and individual development. Through its entrepreneurship program over 300 new businesses have started since 1987. Sixty-six (66%) per cent of those launched between 1995 and 2000 are still operating.
"The YMCA Enterprise Centre is an excellent example of the YMCA's mission in action," said Charlene Giovannetti?King, Chief Executive Officer for the YMCA, "Specifically, through the development of the community and young entrepreneurs."
Funding for these projects was provided for in the February 2000 budget and is therefore built into the existing financial framework.
In June 1998, the Government of Canada announced that $93.8 million would be set aside for the economic development component of the $730 million Fisheries Restructuring and Adjustment Measures (FRAM) in the four Atlantic provinces. The amount available for affected communities in Nova Scotia is $21.3 million. This amount is available over three years for long-term, sustainable economic development initiatives in communities and areas in Nova Scotia affected by the permanent downsizing of the Atlantic groundfishery. On Cape Breton Island, ECBC works in partnership with key regional and community development stakeholders to implement the economic development initiatives of the FRAM program.
Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation offers programs in support of economic development initiatives and is responsible for delivering ACOA's programs in Cape Breton and the Mulgrave area.
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For Further Information Contact:
Communication Assistant
Office of Rodger Cuzner, M.P.
613-992-7848
D.A. Landry,
ECBC
Director, Communications
Tel: (902) 564-3617
Fax:(902) 564-3825
Allan MacIntyre
Glace Bay Centennial Committee 2001
Tel: (902) 842-9629
Charlene Giovannetti-King, Chief Executive Officer
Cape Breton Family YMCA
Tel: (902) 539-7880 or (902) 849-1794
Kathleen MacNeil
Manager, Glace Bay HRCC
Tel: (902) 842-2435
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| Last Update: 2001-11-23 |
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