The grand opening of the new Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal Heavy Equipment Body and Paint Shop in Tignish is further evidence that rural Islanders are benefitting from the province’s Rural Action Plan, says Premier Robert Ghiz.
“Through our Rural Action Plan, we continue to find ways to help rural Islanders find full-time, meaningful employment,” said Premier Ghiz. “The construction of the new provincial paint and auto body shop here in Tignish is part of our efforts to raise the economic fortunes of rural communities in need.”
Construction of the 8,000 square foot facility began in the fall of 2010. The new body shop features environmentally friendly equipment and materials that will be used to maintain and repair the province’s heavy equipment fleet. The new facility will employ six people.
“The work done at the new body shop will be vitally important to the maintenance of the provincial fleet and will help lengthen the life span of our heavy equipment,” said Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal Minister Ron MacKinley. “This new building replaces leased space in Milton that was not entirely appropriate for this type of work.”
The overall goal of the province’s Rural Action Plan is to help rural communities respond and adapt to new opportunities. Action number forty of the plan, employing special measures for sub-regions, looks for opportunities to make strategic government investments in communities that need employment most.
“The addition of new jobs in Tignish will provide a much-needed stimulus to our efforts to create new economic and employment opportunities and help contribute to the local economy,” said Minister of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Rural Development Neil LeClair. ”These new jobs also help diversify employment in an area typically associated with primary industries like fishing and farming.”