Government accepting applications for 2006-07, Community Enhancement Program

Jack Byrne, Minister of Municipal Affairs today announced that government is now accepting applications for the 2006-07, Community Enhancement Program. The $6.25 million program has been significantly revised to better meet the employment challenges faced by men and women, particularly those in rural areas.

"While recognizing that employment support programs are sometimes necessary, it has been this government�s goal to change the way they have been traditionally delivered," said Minister Byrne. "This year we have made several changes that will improve our efforts to meet the challenge of employment support and economic development in rural Newfoundland and Labrador. These include a concerted effort to attract a broader scope of quality projects, including those that better address the gender composition of eligible participants."

The Community Enhancement Program is a provincially-funded, targeted employment creation program focused on creating short-term employment initiatives for eligible participants. The program utilizes a community-based sponsor and delivery model. Employment assistance will be provided through community projects that will strive to provide an enduring benefit to communities.

"Government recognizes that the upgrading and enhancement of programs, services and infrastructure is a vital part of our efforts to develop the economies of rural areas," said Minister Byrne. "The Community Enhancement Program has seen a number of successes, but we believe that other development opportunities exist. We welcome and encourage applications for projects that focus on cultural or natural heritage, arts and crafts development, restoration of heritage sites and environmental improvements."

Changes to program guidelines include:

Eligible projects must consider the gender composition of eligible participants;

Hiring committee to select workers;

Total combined income from employment for worker and spouse (including common-law spouse) no more than $30,000 in the calendar year 2005;

Participants are only permitted to work a maximum of 340 hours on a project if the participant worked the maximum allowed 420 hours on a project the previous year; and,

Non-compliance with program guidelines and management requirements could result in a 25 per cent funding holdback not being paid to project sponsor and funding of future project proposals may be jeopardized.

Project selection will be a competitive, merit-based process using four key criteria:

Public Health and Safety: respond to immediate and urgent needs that, if not corrected, present a danger to the public;

Economic Development: have the potential of generating long-term employment;

Community Infrastructure: provide new infrastructure or enhancements to existing structures, e.g. upgrades; and,

Beautification: provide maintenance and enhancements to community.

Applications and complete program guidelines can be found at //www.gov.nl.ca/mpa/cep/ or may be obtained by calling the Department of Municipal Affairs at 1-866-508-5500, or by contacting area MHAs at their constituency offices.

Media contact: John Tompkins, Communications, (709) 729-1983, 690-2498 or jtompkins@gov.nl.ca

2006 07 21                                         11:05 a.m.