March 27, 2006

Kemptville, Ontario, March 27, 2006 — Leeds–Grenville MP, Gord Brown, on behalf of the Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Health and Minister for FedNor, is pleased to announce the successful completion of four Community Capacity projects funded by the Government of Canada through the Grenville Community Futures Development Corporation (CFDC).

“The Government of Canada works with organizations such as the Grenville CFDC to ensure that rural Ontario communities and businesses have the tools they need to grow and prosper,” said Mr. Brown.  “Projects like these are successful because people at the local level are taking charge of their economic development future.”

The four Community Capacity projects received a total Government of Canada investment of $117,494 through the Business Development component of the Eastern Ontario Development Fund.  The projects included the development of a strategic plan by the University of Guelph, at its Kemptville College campus; an alternative energy opportunities study for the municipality of Edwardsburgh/Cardinal; a marketing signage project with the Town of Prescott; and a conceptual report for the extension of water and sewer services for the townships of Augusta and Edwardsburg/Cardinal.

“This investment by the Government of Canada was key to enabling the Grenville CFDC to work with local partners to address economic development issues specific to the region,” said Lisa Taylor, Chair of the Grenville CFDC.

In the last five years, Ontario CFDCs, through their investment and business counselling activities, invested more than $230 million to help the small business sector create or maintain 27,000 jobs.

To find out more about Ontario CFDCs, visit:  http://cfdc-ontario.ic.gc.ca

For more information, please contact:

Erik Waddell
Press Secretary, Office of the Honourable Tony Clement
(613) 957-0200

Robert Naud
Senior Communications Officer, Industry Canada/FedNor
(613) 954-3691 or 1 877 333-6673