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For Immediate Release
April 6, 2008

News Release

Ontario Supporting Businesses and Jobs at Garden River First Nation

McGuinty Government Helps Community Take First Steps Toward New Small Business Centre

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NEWS
Ontario is taking the first steps toward construction of a small business centre that will support small business and mean more jobs at the Garden River First Nation.

The government is providing more than $43,000 for the Garden River Opportunities Program to do a feasibility study leading to the construction of a small business centre.  When built, the centre would help to create jobs and boost economic development in their own community.

Funding is being provided from the Aboriginal Community Capital Grants Program, which invests in centres that provide Aboriginal community services and encourage business activity as well as feasibility studies that lead to their construction.

QUOTES
"This is the first step towards new businesses and new jobs,” said Aboriginal Affairs Minister, Michael Bryant. “Economic development is the way toward a stronger and more prosperous community.”

"I am pleased that the McGuinty government is supporting our efforts to create jobs and to grow new businesses,” said Chief Lyle Sayers.

"Small businesses are the backbone of our communities, and I am pleased that our government is supporting this initiative," said Mike Brown, MPP, Algoma-Manitoulin.

QUICK FACTS

• So far this fiscal year, $313,982 has been made available through the program to help seven Ontario Aboriginal organizations determine the viability of running community or small business centres.
• Garden River First Nation is located three kilometres northeast of Sault Ste. Marie and is home to over 1,000 people. 
• In February 2008, the Ontario government transferred $201 million to First Nations, an immediate benefit of the new Gaming Revenue Sharing Agreement, for improvements in health, education, economic development, and other community services. 

LEARN MORE
Find out what the Aboriginal Community Capital Grants Program is doing to help Aboriginal communities.

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Greg Crone, Minister’s Office, 416-314-2529
Sofia Sousa-Dias, Communications Branch, 416-326-3187