$4.4 million offered to Grand Falls-Windsor under Multi-Year Capital Works Agreement

Jack Byrne, Minister of Municipal and Provincial Affairs, announced today that $4.4 million has been offered to the Town of Grand Falls-Windsor under the Multi-Year Capital Works Agreement.

"The residents of Grand Falls-Windsor should see a number of improvements in their municipal infrastructure," said Minister Byrne. "The Department of Municipal and Provincial Affairs is pleased to once again enter into a Multi-Year Capital Works Agreement with the Town of Grand Falls-Windsor. Improvements to existing capital works and new projects will benefit the economy of this municipality."

MHA Ray Hunter said: "This is wonderful news for the Town of Grand Falls-Windsor. I am very pleased that residents will benefit from the number of improvements to the town�s infrastructure. The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is committed to the infrastructure needs of our municipalities and this announcement today is a clear indication of this commitment."

"We have identified several key areas where we will be using this funding," said Walwin Blackmore, Mayor of Grand Falls-Windsor. "Everything from street construction to water and sewer improvements to a new fire rescue truck to community infrastructure will be upgraded over the next three years. We have really tried to meet the needs of all our residents in prioritizing all of these projects. I am really looking forward to when we can start work on these projects. The Grand Falls-Windsor town council was pleased to accept this agreement."

The provincial government has committed $85 million under the 2005-08 Multi-Year Capital Works Program. This program is cost-shared on a 50/50 basis between the provincial government and larger municipalities.

In total, combined with the Municipal Capital Works Program and the Canada-Newfoundland Infrastructure Program, governments have committed $140 million for municipal infrastructure. It is estimated that these programs will create approximately 90,000 person weeks of employment throughout the province.

Media contact:
Vanessa Colman-Sadd, Communications, Municipal and Provincial Affairs, (709) 729-1983, 682-6593
Ray Hunter, MHA, (709) 729-6932
Walwin Blackmore, Mayor, Town of Grand Falls-Windsor, (709) 489-0412

2005 02 22                       3:35 p.m.