News Release

For Immediate Release
August 25, 2006

STRAIT AREA TO RECEIVE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA
SUPPORT ON UNIQUE INITIATIVES

Port Hawkesbury, N.S. - Local entrepreneurs in the Strait area will soon be given the opportunity to overcome some current challenges and tourists visiting Cape Breton will be given increased access to enjoy the great outdoors, thanks to investments from Canada’s new government.

The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) announced today that, through ACOA, the Strait Area Waterfront Development Society (SAWDS) will receive a $1 million contribution to construct a new building that will give the area’s business community room to grow.

As well, the Government of Canada, through ACOA, will invest $500,000 to construct recreational trails across Cape Breton. The trails will be constructed by the Cape Breton Island Pathways Association (CBIPA). Both projects will be funded under ACOA’s Innovative Communities Fund.

Strait area entrepreneurs have been faced with the constraint of limited or no space available for expansion or commencement of a business. The new incubator building will provide these business people with the space they need to carry out their ventures.

The recreational trails being constructed by the CBIPA will be used for many outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, snowmobiling, horse back riding and cross country skiing. It is expected that this project will increase the number of tourists to communities throughout Cape Breton.

“Canada’s new Government is investing in communities to help them overcome challenges,” said Minister MacKay. “It is important that we support projects which promote healthy and happy lifestyles. It is also important that we support businesses by providing them with the right tools for success.”

“Cape Breton is a great place for tourists to visit,” said Darrell Taylor of the CBIPA. “Having these trails in place for tourists and residents to enjoy will only enhance Cape Breton’s attraction and popularity.”

“The construction of the incubator community building has been a main objective for us,” said Trish MacKinnon of the SAWDS. “This will help many in our local business community and give a major boost to the local economy.”

The Strait Area Waterfront Development Society is a community based not-for-profit development association formed to develop and implement necessary measures in order to help improve economic conditions in the Strait area.

Cape Breton Island Pathways Association’s mission is to play a key role in the facilitation, coordination and communication of the creation of a Cape Breton Island wide system of recreational travel-ways, to be marketed globally as a premier eco-tourism product.

Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation 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.

-30-

For More Information Please Contact:

Darrell Taylor
Cape Breton Island Pathways Association
Tel: (902) 248-2356

John Davis
Strait Area Waterfront Society
Tel: (902) 631-0885

Jennifer Crocker
ECBC Communications
Tel: (902) 564-3917