Rob announces $200,000 for phase II at the Official Opening of the Village of Clair Multipurpose Complex

Rob makes the announcement

Large crowd had gathered in the new facility

Rob speaks with Minister Percy Mockler and Jean Pierre Oulette before the event begins

Rob with Mayor Ludger Lang, Premier Bernard Lord, Minister Jeannot Volpe and Claude Cote at official Ribbon cutting

Rob announces $200,000 for phase II at the Official Opening of the Village of Clair Multipurpose Complex

July 6, 2006 -- Clair -- Rob was in Clair on behalf of the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency at the official opening of Village of Clair Multipurpose Complex. The Government of Canada, through ACOA, has invested $850,000 in the construction of the Centre.

The new facility will allow the community to host a wide range of cultural events and tourism initiatives. With a capacity to accommodate close to 1000 people, the Complex's location in the Upper Madawaska region will benefit not only Clair but also surrounding communities such as Saint François, Lac-Baker, Baker Brook, and Saint-Hilaire, and the US border town of Fort Kent.

The Government of Canada is investing a total of $1,050,000 in the project: $850,000 under ACOA's Strategic Community Investment Fund and a second investment of $200,000 for Phase II, that Rob announced at the official opening under the Agency's Innovative Community Fund (ICF).

The Province of New Brunswick is investing a total of $680,000 in the project: $480,000 announced in August 2005, and $200,000 for Phase 2, announced today. Other financial supporters of Phase II include the Village of Clair ($40,000), the Caisse Populaire du Haut Madawaska ($25,000), Waska ($25 000) and Gil's Trucking ($10,000).

The municipality estimates that at least 4,312 visitors will travel yearly into the region to attend cultural and festival events. Visitors coming to Clair could invest $168,246 into the local economy. In addition, it should be noted that the estimation does not take into account the local residents taking advantage of the increased cultural activities and consequently their investments into the local economy - restaurants, gas, clothing, daycare, etc. Therefore, there is potential for the economic impact to be greater by providing local business with more exposure and potentially increased sales.