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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
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