News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 17, 2005

Revitalization of Downtown Glace Bay Receives Government Funding

Glace Bay, NS –– Rodger Cuzner, MP for Cape Breton-Canso on behalf of the Honourable Joseph McGuire, Minister for Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation (ECBC) and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), today announced funding for the second phase of the revitalization of the commercial sector of Glace Bay, Nova Scotia.

The Cape Breton County Economic Development Authority (CBCEDA) will spearhead the project in cooperation with various partners. The Government of Canada funding will be used to implement a façade improvement program. A local steering committee has been established to identify eligible applicants and specific areas to be targeted by the program. Details will be announced in the near future.

“The revitalization of downtown Glace Bay has been instrumental in attracting increased business investment and job opportunities to the area,” says MP Cuzner. “In offering our continued support to this valuable initiative, we are helping to create a vibrant and revitalized downtown that will demonstrate a strong sense of community and encourage further investment.”

“Through a strategic plan implemented in 2003, CBCEDA has worked in collaboration with local volunteers and organizations towards achieving positive change in Glace Bay,” says Eileen Lannon-Oldford, Executive Director for CBCEDA. “The first phase of the revitalization has proven to be very successful, drawing praise from residents and visitors alike. We look forward to building on that success.”

The total cost of the project is $1,000,000. ECBC will provide a
non-repayable contribution of $500,000 on behalf of ACOA’s Strategic Community Investment Fund (SCIF).

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:

CAPE BRETON-CANSO MP RODGER CUZNER TODAY ANNOUNCED FUNDING FOR THE SECOND PHASE IN THE REVITALIZATION OF THE COMMERCIAL SECTOR OF GLACE BAY.

CUZNER SAYS THE REVITALIZATION OF DOWNTOWN GLACE BAY HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN ATTRACTING INCREASED BUSINESS INVESTMENT AND JOB OPPORTUNITIES TO THE AREA.

THE TOTAL COST OF THE PROJECT IS $1,000,000. ECBC WILL PROVIDE A NON-REPAYABLE CONTRIBUTION OF $500,000 ON BEHALF OF ACOA’S STRATEGIC COMMUNITY INVESTMENT FUND (SCIF).

THE FUNDING WILL GO TOWARD FAÇADE IMPROVEMENTS. DETAILS ON ELIGIBILITY FOR THE PROGRAM WILL BE ANNOUNCED SOON BY A LOCAL STEERING COMMITTEE THAT WILL BE SPEARHEADING THE PROJECT.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT:

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

Office of Rodger Cuzner, MP
Cape Breton - Canso
Tel: (902) 842-9763

Eileen Lannon-Oldford
Executive Director, CBCEDA
(902) 562-2201

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