News Release

For Immediate Release
March 31, 2005

New Development for Downtown Sydney Mines

Sydney Mines, NS – Working collaboratively, the Government of Canada, the Province of Nova Scotia and a local community development organization have announced plans for a new multi-purpose facility to be located in downtown Sydney Mines, NS.

The announcement was made today by the Honourable Mark Eyking, MP for Sydney-Victoria, on behalf of the Honourable Joseph McGuire, Minister for Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation (ECBC) and Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), along with the Honourable Cecil Clarke, Nova Scotia Minister of Energy.

The new, community-owned facility will be located on Elliott Street and will consist of 14,000 sq. ft. on two floors. The first floor is reserved for community activities and events, and the second floor will be used for commercial office space. ECBC is providing financial assistance toward the construction of the community portion of the facility while the Province of Nova Scotia has agreed to a long-term lease of 7,000 sq. ft. The project is being spearheaded by the Sydney Mines Renewal Association, a not-for-profit group responsible for economic and social development, in cooperation with the Sydney Mines Firemen’s Club. Construction is expected to begin in the summer.

“The downtown core is the heart of any community and the Government of Canada is pleased to work with the people of Sydney Mines to effect positive change,” says MP Eyking. “The construction of the facility will make a lasting contribution to the community, bringing new employment opportunities and economic spin-offs.”

“The Sydney Mines community has risen to the challenge of economic development and has worked tirelessly to make projects like this a reality,” says Minister Clarke. “We all can see the positive changes that have occurred in the last several years and the Province of Nova Scotia is pleased to have supported these community-led efforts.”

“The downtown revitalization is crucial to attracting investment to the area,” says Karen Ralph, Chair of the Sydney Mines Renewal Association. “We are very pleased with the results of the downtown revitalization, and we look forward to improved economic prospects for our community.”

The total cost of the building is anticipated to be approximately $3 million. ECBC will provide a non-repayable contribution of $938,000 toward the community centre portion of the facility through ACOA’s Strategic Community Investment Fund.

The Strategic Community Investment Fund provides $135 million over five years to help communities in Atlantic Canada create an environment that encourages and enhances economic development.

ECBC offers programs in support of economic development initiatives and is responsible for delivering ACOA's programs on Cape Breton Island and in the Mulgrave area.

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FOR BROADCAST USE ONLY:

SYDNEY – VICTORIA MP MARK EYKING JOINED WITH NOVA SCOTIA MINISTER OF ENERGY CECIL CLARKE AND THE COMMUNITY TO ANNOUNCE THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW MULTI-PURPOSE BUILDING IN DOWNTOWN SYDNEY MINES.

THE NEW, COMMUNITY-OWNED FACILITY WILL CONSIST OF 14,000 SQ. FT. ON TWO FLOORS. THE FIRST FLOOR IS FOR COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS, AND THE SECOND FLOOR IS TO BE USED FOR COMMERCIAL OFFICE SPACE.

ECBC IS PROVIDING A NON-REPAYABLE CONTRIBUTION OF $938,000 TOWARD THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE COMMUNITY CENTRE PORTION OF THE FACILITY, WHILE THE PROVINCE OF NOVA SCOTIA HAS AGREED TO A LONG-TERM LEASE OF 7,000 SQ. FT.

THE TOTAL COST OF THE BUILDING IS APPROXIMATELY $3 MILLION.

MP EYKING SAYS THAT THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE FACILITY WILL MAKE A LASTING CONTRIBUTION TO THE COMMUNITY, BRINGING NEW EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND ECONOMIC SPIN-OFFS.

CECIL CLARKE NOTES THAT THE SYDNEY MINES COMMUNITY HAS RISEN TO THE CHALLENGE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND HAS WORKED TIRELESSLY TO MAKE PROJECTS LIKE THIS A REALITY.


FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT:


Valérie Poulin
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Joseph McGuire
Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
(613) 941-7241

Office of the Honourable Mark Eyking
MP Sydney-Victoria
(902) 567-6275

Office of the Honourable Cecil Clarke
Nova Scotia Minister of Energy
(902) 794-4060

Karen Ralph
Chairman, Sydney Mines Renewal Association
Tel: (902) 736-6217

D.A. Landry
ECBC Communications
(902) 564-3617