Nominations sought for province's 3^rd annual Community Economic Development Awards

Industry, Trade and Rural Development Minister Judy Foote today announced that the department is calling for nominations for the province's third annual Community Economic Development Awards. The awards, which will be presented at a gala banquet in Gander on September 26, 2003, are one of four major components of RuralEXPO 2003.

"The Community Economic Development (CED) awards are designed to recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of individuals and organizations who have excelled as leaders in community economic development in Newfoundland and Labrador," said Minister Foote. "As a major component of RuralEXPO 2003, the CED awards will highlight the accomplishments of those individuals and organizations who devote countless time and effort to planning and implementing initiatives aimed at improving the economic prospects for their communities and regions."

Nominations for the Community Economic Development awards are being sought in six categories:

Excellence in Partnership - This award recognizes exceptional efforts and achievements of organizations working together to achieve positive results in community economic development.

Outstanding Individual Achievement - This award recognizes the distinguished contribution of an individual to community economic development. The winner will demonstrate outstanding leadership skills, commitment to the community, and success from their efforts.

Excellence in Fostering Entrepreneurship - This award recognizes the distinguished efforts of an organization or an individual to promote, mentor, and/or foster entrepreneurship at the community level.

Innovation in Education - This award recognizes exceptional efforts and achievements of an individual or group in bringing together education and community economic development programs and activities for the betterment of their communities.

Excellence in Youth Leadership - This award recognizes a young person or youth group that has demonstrated exceptional initiative, visibility, leadership and success in engaging youth in community economic development.

Lifetime Achievement - This award recognizes an individual or organization whose work has made a lasting contribution to the economic development of a community or whose work over an extended period has consistently empowered people to foster economic growth at the community level.

The Community Economic Development awards gala is one of four major components of RuralEXPO 2003 to be held in Gander from September 25-27, 2003. Other components of RuralEXPO 2003 include a conference program that will focus on approaches and practices for community and business development that work best in rural Newfoundland and Labrador; a Rural Business Exhibition that will showcase successful rural businesses and community economic development organizations from around the province; and a Youth Forum to provide an avenue for young people to be heard and to provide suggestions on the future direction of the province.

The deadline for nominations for the Community Economic Development Awards is August 15, 2003. Nominations can be made to the Department of Industry, Trade and Rural Development by any individual or group. All nominations submitted will be reviewed by the Newfoundland and Labrador Community Economic Development Awards Selection Committee.

To request a Community Economic Development Awards nomination kit, please contact:

Gillian Skinner
Community Economic Development Awards Co-ordinator
RuralEXPO 2003
Department of Industry, Trade and Rural Development
Phone: 709-729-7068
Fax: 709-729-4858
Email: gskinner@gov.nl.ca

Media contact: Tansy Mundon, Communications, (709) 729-4570.

2003 07 02                                         9:20 a.m.