$569,425 in Funding Granted by Government of Canada to City of Baie-Comeau for Development of Reception Area for Cruise Ship Passengers

BAIE-COMEAU, QUEBEC--(Marketwire - March 8, 2011) - The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of State for Canada Economic Development, announces that $569,425 in non-repayable funding has been granted to the City of Baie-Comeau to develop reception infrastructure consolidating the international port of call.

"This contribution from the Government of Canada has helped develop sites and infrastructure enhancing the Baie-Comeau port of call's power of attraction on cruise ship passengers and tourists as a whole," mentioned Minister of State Lebel.

The funding awarded to the municipality served to carry out a major project involving the construction of two reception and tourist facilities. Colonel McCormick Garden―a leisure and historical area developed around the statue of Baie-Comeau's founder, Colonel Robert McCormick, and the World Welcome Zone―a festive venue with a stage and agora, and a public marketplace for local artists and craftspeople.

This financial assistance has been awarded through the Support Initiative for International Cruise Development provided for under Canada Economic Development's Community Diversification program.

Canada Economic Development is online at www.dec-ced.gc.ca. Subscribe to the Agency's press releases at
http://www.dec-ced.gc.ca/eng/media-room/mailing-list/list.html to keep up with the latest news.