Grand Bank Region Receives $33,330 in Recreational Development Funding

The Honourable Terry French, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, today announced that a total of $33,330 has been provided to municipalities and recreation organizations in the Grand Bank region through the Community Recreation Development Grant (CRDG) Program.

"The Community Recreation Development Grant program is designed to help offset the cost of delivering recreation and active-living programs to residents in small communities, with populations less than 6,000, throughout the province," said Minister French. "This is part of the Provincial Government's efforts to support municipalities and recreation committees, particularly those in rural areas, which encourage residents to live more active, healthy lifestyles."

The 2010 CRGP program is providing more than $576,000 to over 180 smaller communities throughout Newfoundland and Labrador to enable people of all ages to participate in recreational and physical activity.

Investments in the Grand Bank area are as follows:

• Garnish Recreation Committee - $5,060;
• Town of Grand Bank - $5,005;
• Town of St. Lawrence - $4,620;
• Town of Point May - $3,575;
• Town of Point aux Gaul - $3,300;
• Town of Lamaline - $3,190;
• Fortune Recreation Commission - $3,135;
• Town of Lewin's Cove - $2,310;
• Town of Lawn - $1,430;
• Lord's Cove Recreation - $1,265; and,
• Town of Frenchman's Cove - $440.

"I am pleased with our government's continued financial support of recreation in the Grand Bank area," said the Honourable Darin King, MHA for Grand Bank. "It is important to support volunteers who are doing great work to promote regular physical activity, and to improve the quality of life for residents. This funding will assist with programs and services within a number of communities so that residents of all ages will be given the opportunity to integrate physical activity into their lives."

Community Recreation Development Grant 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 capacity within communities to deliver programming, 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 programming and introduce new initiatives which support the goals and objectives of the provincial recreation and sport strategy, Active Healthy Newfoundland and Labrador. Since the launch of the strategy, more than $70 million in Provincial Government funding has been committed to recreational and sport infrastructure, programming, and athlete development.

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2010 07 23                                                   11:45 a.m.