Eves Government Supports Business Retention and Expansion in Brockville and 1000 Islands

BROCKVILLE -The Ernie Eves government is investing $20,996 to help rural businesses in Brockville and South Leeds identify and act on growth opportunities, Leeds-Grenville MPP Bob Runciman announced today on behalf of Brian Coburn, Associate Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, responsible for rural affairs.

The goal of the Business Retention & Expansion (BR+E) initiative is identifying the needs and concerns that will enable businesses to retain and create jobs. This will be accomplished by: improving lines of communication; improving permit processes and decreasing completion times at the municipal level; acknowledging and encouraging input from local business owners on ways to improve the business community; and addressing concerns and rectifying them where possible.

“This BR+E initiative will provide Brockville and 1000 Islands businesses with a blueprint for the economic revitalization of the area,” said Coburn. “The province is pleased to be a partner in a project that focuses on revitalizing and strengthening the economy of the region’s communities.”

The 1000 Islands Community Development Corporation, the City of Brockville and the South Leeds Economic Development Commission are providing the balance of the $42,200 funding for this initiative.

“I am pleased that the province is funding the project,” said Runciman. “I’ve always been supportive of the Rural Economic Development program. I believe that this project is a good step toward strong economic growth in South Leeds.”

“We appreciate the financial support of the government of Ontario — it’s an important part of our collective effort to reorganize and reshape the economy of the region,” said Tom Russell, executive director of the 1000 Islands Community Development Corporation. “In many ways our work has just begun and we intend to do it in a manner that best serves the needs of the community.”

The five-year, $200-million Rural Economic Development (RED) program is a component of the Ontario Small Town and Rural (OSTAR) Development Initiative — a two-part, $600-million initiative launched in 2000 to assist rural Ontario.

The RED program aims to remove barriers to economic growth in rural Ontario by promoting a diversified business climate, exploring new products and new markets, creating long-term job growth, and investing in technologies and sectors that contribute to economic development in rural Ontario.