The Provincial Government is contributing $20,000 towards The Tidy Towns Newfoundland and Labrador Program. The program�s mandate is to increase tourism, promote community involvement, and add to the local economy.

The Honourable Jack Byrne, Minister of Municipal Affairs, said the province�s contribution towards the Tidy Towns Program encourages communities to do projects that enhance and beautify their local environment and strengthen community pride.

"Promoting awareness of the importance and value of such projects improves our environment and beautifies municipalities around Newfoundland and Labrador," said Minister Byrne. "We have contributed to this program for a number of years and see a direct benefit being spread to the communities and towns that participate. It is even more encouraging that a sense of pride becomes instilled after a community pulls together to help beautify their homes and properties."

Tidy Towns is an initiative of Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador (MNL) in partnership with the Provincial Government and recognizes the efforts of communities to encourage residents to be stewards of the environment. The activities that communities undertake to prepare for Tidy Towns promote the beautification and maintenance of public and private open spaces.

"At Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador, our goal is to make the Tidy Towns Program permanent and sustainable. We acknowledge the generous contribution the province has made to help us attain that goal," says Wayne Ruth, president of Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador. "This province has tremendous natural beauty and we encourage all municipalities to take pride in their neighborhoods and preserve the beauty for future generations."

The 2007 Tidy Towns competition runs throughout the summer and will conclude at the Tidy Towns Awards Ceremony Luncheon at the St. John�s Convention Centre on November 15, 2007. Further information on the program can be found at //www.nlfm.ca/.

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