NLIS 4
July 20, 2006
(Innovation, Trade and Rural Development)
Funds support three
initiatives in eastern Newfoundland
The Town of Clarenville, Chapel Arm
Woodcrafts Limited and Trinity Historical Society will benefit from the
Department of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development�s Business Market
Development Program and Regional/Sectoral Diversification Fund. The
initiatives include culture and heritage enhancements, expanding product
lines and restoring a local cooperage, respectively. In total, $98,429
has been awarded to fund the projects.
�Supporting these initiatives will help advance economic activity in
these towns, which is a priority for this department,� said Innovation,
Trade and Rural Development Minister Trevor Taylor. �Each of these
initiatives will enhance the eastern region�s development, and provide a
service or attraction that previously was unavailable. These funding
programs were specifically designed to foster this type of growth and
development throughout our province.�
The Town of Clarenville has been awarded $64,045 from the Regional
Sectoral Diversification Fund to complete Phases II and III of the Shoal
Harbour Enhancement Initiative, including the development of a trail
along the Shoal Harbour causeway. The completion of these phases will
see the construction of two interpretive sites, a viewing platform,
grounds work, a pedestrian walkway and stairs to link the new trail to
already-established nearby trails. The benefits of this project are
far-reaching and include increased tourism attractions for visitors, the
preservation and interpretation of local heritage and culture,
integration of the new trail into the existing community wellness trail
system as well as the Newfoundland T�railway, and environmental
protection and preservation.
Chapel Arm Woodcrafts Limited, based in Chapel Arm, will use $17,100
from the Business Market and Development Program to assist the company
expand outside its present craft line and undertake new product
development activities, enabling the company to increase sales and
operate year round. Government�s funding investment will help the
company to investigate new markets and increase revenues. This funding
ensures the retention of two positions.
Trinity Historical Society will use $17,284 from the Regional Sectoral
Diversification Fund to reconstruct a cooperage on the Lester-Garland
Provincial Historic site in Trinity, Trinity Bay. The cooperage will be
used as a living history and interpretative site, complementing other
historic developments in the area. Specifically, this funding will allow
the society to hire an experienced archaeologist, a field assistant and
an historical researcher to conduct an archaeological assessment and
conserve artifacts uncovered at the site. The construction of the
cooperage will take place adjacent to the original site. Concurrent with
this, interpretative panels and materials will be researched,
constructed and installed to make this a living history site. It is
anticipated the cooperage will be ready for a 2007 public opening.
The Business and Market Development Program provides new entrepreneurs
and expanding small businesses with funding to help them acquire the
necessary expertise to pursue new business ideas and new markets for
their products or services. The program is intended to support new
growth opportunities in the economy, such as value-added manufacturing
activities and export-oriented opportunities.
The Regional Sectoral Diversification Fund is a $5 million fund of the
Department of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development and a component of
the province�s Comprehensive Regional Diversification Strategy. The fund
provides non-repayable contributions to economic development agencies
for initiatives that address regional and sectoral development,
diversification and innovation.
Media contact: Lynn Evans, Communications, (709) 729-4570, (709)
609-6290
2006 07 20
2:10 p.m. |