Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour Minister Trevor Holder at Friday's announcement. (Photo: Ben Burnett)
The provincial government has committed $10 million in funding for the Saint John region’s new economic development agency.
The 10-year commitment will help fund the agency, which will serve the city and its outlying municipalities, including Grand Bay-Westfield, Rothesay, Quispamsis, Hampton and St. Martins.
Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour Minister Trevor Holder announced the funds at a news conference at Port Saint John on Friday morning.
Holder said he was proud to announce the funds, as a life-long resident of the area.
“I want to say a huge thank you to the outlying areas, for not only believing in us here in Saint John but stepping up to the plate financially as well,” Holder said.
Saint John Mayor Don Darling said the funds were a sign of the great things taking place in the city this year.
“With a world now that we know we can work from home, we can work from anywhere, I’ll tell you if you live in Toronto or Vancouver or New York City, Greater Saint John is the place to be.”
The mayor cited the new economic development agency, as well as the $205-million modernization of Port Saint John, as a few examples of how the city’s fortunes are turning.
“A few years down the road we’ll look back and say 2020 didn’t break this region. 2020 is what helped us pivot and it was the gasoline in our tank to take us to another level.”
