For immediate release

December 16, 2009

VanKESTEREN & HOY ANNOUNCE $9.4M FOR
YMCA OF CHATHAM-KENT
& CHATHAM-KENT WOMEN’S CENTRE

CHATHAM, ONTARIO – MP Dave VanKesteren and MPP Pat Hoy today announced $9,494,549 in federal-provincial funding to help build a new YMCA of Chatham-Kent facility and upgrade the Chatham-Kent Women’s Centre, helping create local jobs while supporting healthy living for individuals and families, and expanding women’s services in the community.

Chatham-Kent-Essex MP Dave Van Kesteren said: “I am proud today to be jointly announcing funding for a project that will get shovels in the ground, jobs created, and enable these two organizations to enhance their services for years to come. Through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, our government has announced an historic number of projects to help strengthen our communities, including here locally.”

Chatham-Kent-Essex MPP Pat Hoy said: “Today’s investment in both the YMCA and Women’s Centre is another demonstration of the McGuinty government’s commitment to strengthening our communities’ not-for-profit sector right here in our local area. This investment will not only help deliver valued community services, help create jobs, and stimulate our local economy, but will also improve the quality of life for residents in our community.”

Chatham-Kent Mayor Randy Hope said: “Chatham-Kent Council’s $2.4 million commitment to the YMCA project was dependant on both senior government funding and significant contributions from the community. We are very pleased that community donors and all levels of government have joined in the cause. Now our community can provide a major boost to the sports, recreation and healthier lifestyles of our citizens.”

Projects:
· YMCA: Federal and provincial governments contributing $4,424,638 each, plus the Municipality of Chatham-Kent with $2.4 million, and local fundraising of $2,025,966 for total eligible project costs of $13,275,242.
· Women’s Centre: federal share is $322,475, provincial is $322,798, with $323,121 organization contribution for total project costs of $968,394.

YMCA CEO Jim Janzen said: “This is a tremendously exciting time for the YMCA and the Chatham-Kent community. With today’s commitment from the federal and provincial governments, Chatham-Kent is assured of a new YMCA that will continue to provide needed programs and services for generations to come. This new YMCA will serve more people and have greater impact on the health of our community. On behalf of the Board of Directors and myself, we recognize the hard work and unwavering support of our local representatives, Dave Van Kesteren and Pat Hoy, who both understood the positive contribution the YMCA makes to our community and championed this project within their respective governments. Their efforts were instrumental in securing this funding.”

Chatham-Kent Women’s Centre Executive Director Patricia Arango said: “These resources represent a great opportunity to expand and improve services for women and children who have experienced domestic violence in Chatham-Kent. The federal-provincial investment will address the increased need for services for abused women and children as the project proposes to repurpose, upgrade and add on to the existing facility, and make if fully accessible to meet the needs of all clientele.”

Canada’s funding is part of its $4 billion national Infrastructure Stimulus Fund, under Canada’s Economic Action Plan unveiled in January 2009. Ontario’s matching contribution is provided through the 2009 Ontario Budget – Confronting the Challenge: Building Our Economic Future, which invests $32.5 billion over the next two years to create and support more than 300,000 jobs.

-30-

Info: Nathaniel VeltKamp, 519-326-9655; Office of Dave VanKesteren, MP

Mike Ferguson, 519-351-0510; Office of Pat Hoy, MPP