Recreational infrastructure in the Town of St. George's will receive upgrading thanks in part to a $13,200 grant provided through the Provincial Government's 2010 Capital Grants Program.

"The Siki Bennett Memorial Stadium is an integral component of indoor and outdoor physical, recreational and social activities in the community," said the Honourable Terry French, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation. "We are therefore pleased to provide support for the repairs to the stadium's refrigeration system, and equally pleased to fund improvements to the town's playground."

The Town of St. George's is among more that 40 municipalities, recreation commissions and community-based organizations which have received funding to upgrade their recreation and sport infrastructure through these latest Capital Grant Program investments.

"The stadium is a very important piece of infrastructure to the residents of St. George's and surrounding communities," said the Honourable Joan Burke, Minister of Child, Youth and Family Services and MHA for St. George's – Stephenville East. "I am pleased that our government continues its commitment to our rural areas by promoting physical and recreational well-being."

For more information on the Capital Grant Program, visit: www.tcr.gov.nl.ca/tcr/sports/capital_grant_program.html.

Budget 2010: The Right Investments – For Our Children and Our Future provides an additional $300,000 to the Capital Grant Program, bringing the total annual investment in this program to $1.3 million. Since the introduction of the Provincial Government's recreation and sport strategy, Active, Healthy Newfoundland and Labrador (2007), more than $70 million in new funding has been committed for recreation and sport infrastructure and programming.

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