Five Rural Action Centres, a cornerstone commitment of the Province’s Rural Action Plan, are now one step close to reality. Today, the Honourable Keith Ashfield, Minister of National Revenue, Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway, and the Honourable Neil LeClair, Minister of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Rural Development, joined with representatives of four community-based organizations to announce the future locations of the Rural Action Centres.
Rural Action Centres will be client-focused, partnerships between multiple Federal, Provincial and non-government organizations that are focused on business and community development services. A Memorandum of Understanding is being developed to articulate the principles and priorities of this innovative partnership that has been designed to facilitate and accelerate the pace of development in rural areas of Prince Edward Island. All services in the Rural Action Centres will be coordinated through a cooperative service model to ensure complete and seamless access to government support development programs for entrepreneurs, business people and community groups.
“Our government is supporting a project that strengthens community infrastructure and creates economic opportunities and jobs for the people of Prince Edward Island,” said Minister Ashfield. “We are pleased to collaborate with our provincial partners to continue to foster entrepreneurship on the Island.”
Lead community partners and hosts of the Rural Action Centre will be:
• West Prince Ventures Limited in Alberton
• Active Communities Inc. in Montague and Souris
• La Société de développement de la Baie Acadienne Incorporée in Wellington, and
• Central Development Corporation Ltd. in Central Bedeque
“The Provincial Government continues to deliver on the commitments made in the Rural Action Plan,” states Minister LeClair, “as a government, we believe that our people and our communities are our greatest asset and that our surest path forward is one that invests in and supports them. The Rural Action Centres will be one-stop shops that provide all of the services that are currently available to entrepreneurs, business people and community groups.”
The Government of Canada, through ACOA, is supporting this initiative with a $500,000 contribution under the Community Adjustment Fund, a key stimulus program under Canada’s Economic Action Plan. This funding will contribute to the redevelopment of existing infrastructure that will house the Rural Action Centre in Central Bedeque.
The Government of PEI will be supporting the Rural Action Centres through Rural Development programs featured in PEI’s Rural Action Plan.
The first Rural Action Centre is expected to be open in the early fall. All five centres will be operating by December.
In the immediate future, some minor capital investments will be made in these community-owned facilities for which plans are currently being finalized. Investments are also being made in the development of the service model, training for staff, as well as the branding and marketing of the centres. Larger partnerships of local and provincial service groups are being developed to ensure a full complement of services are offered at the centres.
The use of existing, community-owned facilities reduces duplication and ensures maximum efficiency of resources invested in Rural Development.