MAIN STREET SASKATCHEWAN COMMUNITIES ANNOUNCED

MAIN STREET SASKATCHEWAN COMMUNITIES ANNOUNCED

Today the Government of Saskatchewan announced the four communities selected to participate in the Main Street Saskatchewan demonstration program. Wolseley, Indian Head, Maple Creek and Prince Albert were selected from the 18 communities which had submitted proposals.

Tourism, Parks, Culture and Sport Minister Bill Hutchinson made the announcement as he visited Wolseley and Indian Head and toured the main streets of each community.

"We believe that through vision, creativity and planning, the historic main streets in these communities can return to prominence as places where commerce, community and culture once again meet," Hutchinson said. "The Main Street Saskatchewan program is great because it supports economic development through heritage conservation, and strengthens our province's growing arts, culture and heritage sector."

Earlier this year, the Government of Saskatchewan announced a $1.65 million investment over three years to provide funding assistance to four demonstration communities to implement the Main Street Saskatchewan approach to downtown revitalization. The four communities named today were selected on the basis of community readiness, community capacity, community support, existing historic buildings and potential for growth. The 3-year demonstration program includes matching funding to help cover operating costs and capital expenses for revitalizing main streets in each of the four communities.

The Main Street program is one of the ways the Government of Saskatchewan is implementing the new cultural policy, Pride of Saskatchewan, which calls for supporting heritage stewardship and strengthening the province's vibrant arts and culture sector, both of which contribute to the economy and quality of life in the province.

For information on the Main Street Saskatchewan demonstration program, visit www.tpcs.gov.sk.ca/heritage.

-30-

For more information, contact:

Tiffany Stephenson
Tourism, Parks, Culture and Sport
Regina
Phone: 306-787-3506
Email: tiffany.stephenson@gov.sk.ca
Cell: 306-550-5927