Municipalities and community-based recreation organizations in the Grand Falls Windsor-Green Bay South area have received a total of $11,330 through the Community Recreation Development Grant Program, which assists with the cost of delivering recreation and active-living programs to residents in communities with a population of 6,000 or less.

"The Provincial Government is committed to increasing opportunities and developing new initiatives to encourage participation in healthy, recreational activities," said the Honourable Terry French, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation. "The 2010 Community Recreation Development Program is providing more than $576,000 to over 180 smaller communities throughout Newfoundland and Labrador to enable people of all ages to be engaged in recreational activity which contributes to their overall well-being."

Investments in the Grand Falls Windsor-Green Bay South area are as follows:

• Town of Robert's Arm - $3,960;
• Town of Pilley's Island - $3,355;
• Triton Recreation Committee - $3,245; and,
• Town of Lushes Bight-Beaumont - $770.

"The Community Recreation Development Grant Program is an important contributor to the provision and success of recreation and active-living programs in our smaller communities," said Grand Falls-Windsor-Green Bay South MHA Ray Hunter. "This funding allows towns and committees to operate engaging programs for residents that may not otherwise have been possible."

Community Recreation Development Grants are available to communities of 6,000 or less. 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 community capacities, 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 of 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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