PROVINCE ANNOUNCES DETAILS OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TRUST FUND PROGRAM

The provincial government has developed a program to disburse the federal allocation of $36.4 million for the Community Development Trust Fund. The three year program in Saskatchewan will target communities impacted by the downturn in the forest sector.

In Saskatchewan, the majority of the funding will focus on infrastructure projects. Forest value-added research programs, training, human capital development and regional economic strategy development projects will also be included in the program.

"Our government held consultation meetings in Hudson Bay, Carrot River, Big River, Meadow Lake, Prince Albert and La Ronge earlier this summer," Enterprise and Innovation Minister Lyle Stewart said. "We have taken a balanced approach to distributing the fund and taking into account what we heard during those consultations."

Eligibility, program details and applications for the infrastructure and regional economic strategy development will be managed through the Ministry of Enterprise and Innovation. The forest value - added research program of this fund falls under the Ministry of Energy and Resources, and the training portion of the program will be the responsibility of the Minister of Advanced Education, Employment and Labour.

"Forestry is an industry that is undergoing transition as a result of challenges in the global marketplace," Energy and Resources Minister Bill Boyd said. "The forestry component of this program will support research on new value-added opportunities in that changing marketplace, which will take advantage of opportunities within our extensive and distinctive forest resource."

"With the growing economy and wealth of job opportunities, our province has a lot to offer Saskatchewan people," Advanced Education, Employment and Labour Minister Rob Norris said. "The disbursement of the Community Development Trust Fund allocates $6 million for apprenticeship and training opportunities that will help workers respond to labour market demands, including those in our northern communities."

Further details about the program eligibility, criteria and applications will be available in the next few weeks.

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For more information, contact:

Deb Young
Enterprise and Innovation
Regina
Phone: (306) 787-1691
Email: Deb.Young@gov.sk.ca