Municipalities and recreational organizations in The Isles of Notre Dame region have received a total of $14,410 in Provincial Government support through the Community Recreation Development Grant (CRDG) program, which is designed to help offset the cost of delivering recreation and active-living programs to residents in small communities throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.

"Community Recreation Development Grants are available to communities of 6,000 or fewer, and are intended to help municipalities and recreation committees, particularly those in rural areas, to deliver programming which encourages residents to live more active, healthy lives," said the Honourable Terry French, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation. "By providing accessible, inclusive, active-living programs, municipalities and recreation committees are able to contribute to the overall well-being of residents."

The 2010 CRDG Program is providing more than $576,000 to over 180 smaller communities throughout the province.

Investments in The Isles of Notre Dame area are as follows:

• Joe Batt's Arm Recreation Commission - $2,860;
• Town of Summerford - $2,695;
• Seldom - Little Seldom Parks & Recreation - $2,585;

• Town of Twillingate - $2,530;
• Town of Fogo - $1,870; and,
• Town of Tilting - $1,870.

"Participation in recreation and physical activity certainly contributes to a well-rounded, healthy, happy life," said The Isles of Notre Dame MHA Derrick Dalley. "I am very pleased that our government continues to support our active-living programs within the region and throughout the province, while striving for inclusion among under-represented segments of our population."

Community Recreation Development Grants are available to communities of 6,000 or less. Applications are considered based on their alignment with the priorities outlined in the province's recreation and sport strategy, Active, Healthy Newfoundland and Labrador (2007). These priorities include providing increased access to programming for all residents; making the best use of community facilities; building community capacities, and promoting the inclusion of traditionally under-represented groups, especially women and girls, seniors, Aboriginal people, and those with disabilities.

For more information on the Community Recreation Development Grant Program, and criteria for application, visit: www.tcr.gov.nl.ca/tcr/sports/community_recreation_development_grants.html.

Budget 2010: The Right Investments — For Our Children and Our Future provides over $1.2 million in new funding to improve existing recreation and sport programming and to introduce new initiatives. Since the launch of Active, Healthy Newfoundland and Labrador, more than $70 million in Provincial Government funding has been committed to recreational and sport infrastructure, programming, and athlete development.

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