January 28, 2005

BELLEVILLE, Ontario, January 28, 2005 — The Honourable Paul Macklin, Member of Parliament for Northumberland–Quinte West, on behalf of the Honourable Joe Comuzzi, Minister of State (FedNor), today announced Government of Canada support to the local Community Futures Development Corporation (CFDC), known as the Trenval Business Development Corporation, toward research activities associated with developing a new heritage-based tourist attraction.

The project is aimed at determining the feasibility of creating an interpretative centre on the natural and cultural heritage of the Trenton area.  The Quinte Geo Centre will focus primarily on unique geological features formed by ice age glaciers.  The development of the Quinte Geo Centre project would result in online service capability, interactive displays for the visiting public, and data input of natural and cultural heritage resources.

“The Government of Canada understands that investing in tourism promotion, events and infrastructure pays off many times over through more visitors and their associated spending,” said Mr. Macklin.  “This initiative helps build this community’s capacity to draw people to the area, and to create new business and employment opportunities.”

There are 61 CFDCs in rural and Northern Ontario funded by Industry Canada’s Community Futures Program through FedNor.  CFDCs are designed to develop and implement long-term, community-based economic development initiatives.  They employ local staff and are governed by a volunteer-based board of directors, made up of local residents representative of the community.

Industry Canada is providing the Trenval Business Development Corporation with $102 900 through its Innovation and Knowledge-Based Economy Initiative in support of this project.

“The creation of this centre will greatly benefit the entire Quinte area,” said David Valcamp, Chair of the Trenval Business Development Corporation.  “It will become a tourism hub, with numerous side trips to regional tourist attractions that our tourism partnership is eager to support.  We are excited to add another jewel in our crown of local attractions.”

Through this initiative, the Government of Canada is acting upon its commitment to support economic growth and diversification in rural communities.

Funding for this initiative was provided for in the March 2004 federal budget and is therefore built into the existing fiscal framework.

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

For more information, please contact:

Graeme Wilkes
Director of Communications, Office of the Honourable Joe Comuzzi
(613) 947-5850

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