Government of Canada Allocates $649,856 to Support Economic Diversification of Chandler

CHANDLER, QUEBEC--(Marketwire - Feb. 14, 2011) - The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of State for Canada Economic Development, today announced the awarding of $649,856 in non-repayable funding to the City of Chandler through the Community Diversification program to support the municipality's efforts to stimulate the local economy.

"Faced with the massive job losses brought on by the departure of its main local employer, the City of Chandler is having to work twice as hard to preserve its gains and stimulate its growth and development. The Government of Canada is proud to renew its support to a city that is investing in projects with the potential to create new economic prospects for the Gaspésie region," explained Minister of State Lebel.

Within the framework of a local economic diversification plan, Chandler and its economic stakeholders are working to promote the city as a welcoming ground for entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) operating in such promising sectors as information and communications technology, recreational tourism and renewable energy. It should be noted that since 2004, Canada Economic Development has allocated nearly $1.5 million for the execution of various economic diversification projects in Chandler. The new agreement under which today's contribution has been granted will be in effect up to June 2012. 

The aim of Canada Economic Development's Community Diversification program is to fund projects designed to help Quebec regions maintain and develop their economic activity base. Its goals include helping communities mobilize to support entrepreneurship and the creation or maintenance of viable enterprises.

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