Funding Provided to Support Age-Friendly Communities

Funding under the Age-Friendly Newfoundland and Labrador Grants Program is being awarded again this year to help create and support age-friendly initiatives. The initial age-friendly grants from this program are being provided to the Town of Grand Bank and the Burin Easy Striders in Lewin’s Cove to help implement initiatives focused on healthy aging.

“Providing opportunities to communities and organizations to support our aging population is paramount for our government,” said the Honourable Susan Sullivan, Minister of Health and Community Services and Minister Responsible for Aging and Seniors. “Through this funding, communities will identify priority areas that can be enhanced to support healthy aging and organizations will deliver important programs and services focused on that goal. Supporting these initiatives will help make our communities stronger and improve the overall well-being of all our residents.”

The Town of Grand Bank is being provided with a $10,000 grant to complete an age-friendly community assessment. This assessment will allow the town to evaluate and identify its available resources and assets, and determine the challenges and opportunities to make it a more age-friendly place to live. Through this evaluation an action plan will be developed, with the ultimate goal of addressing the community’s identified needs.

The Burin Easy Striders, located in Lewin’s Cove, is being provided with $9,400 to help make the group more self-sufficient. Formed in 2009, the group will use the funding to hire a part-time coordinator, purchase equipment including free weights, mats and balance equipment, and to further promote the group to encourage greater participation.

"I am very pleased that our government is assisting the Town of Grand Bank and the Burin Easy Striders group with age-friendly grants," said the Honourable Darin King, Minster of Fisheries and Aquaculture and MHA for Grand Bank. "These projects will be of great benefit to seniors groups in both towns and will certainly help promote a more inclusive community and enhance the role seniors play in their respective communities."

In total, seven communities and 11 organizations will benefit from $160,000 in Age-Friendly Newfoundland and Labrador Grants Program funding.

The Age-Friendly Newfoundland and Labrador Grants Program is an initiative of the Provincial Healthy Aging Policy Framework. The program provides funding to incorporated municipalities, Inuit community governments and reserves, as well as seniors’ organizations and retiree groups throughout the province.

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2012 06 26           11:45 a.m.