Province Invests in Village of Port Williams

Improvements to the waterfront, park and reservoir in the village of Port Williams are getting a financial boost from the province as the community celebrates its 250th birthday.

The Department of Economic and Rural Development, through its Community Development Fund, announced today, Oct. 9, it would contribute $40,000 towards a feasibility study to revitalize the village's waterfront.

"By investing in sustainable projects like this, the province is making life better for families in every region," said MLA Jim Morton, on behalf of Economic and Rural Development Minister Percy Paris. "This community-led project has the potential to revitalize vacant buildings to benefit the Port Williams area for years to come."

The village of Port Williams and the Municipality of the County of Kings will each contribute an additional $10,000 toward the project.

"This investment will provide us with a roadmap for revitalizing our waterfront," said Lewis Benedict, chair of the Village Commission. "It is a very exciting project for the village."

The Community Development Fund assists regional areas and rural communities with local planning and entrepreneurship. It helps to develop co-operatives and projects to ensure sustainable communities across Nova Scotia. Last year, projects totalled more than $1.4 million.

The community is also unveiling a new water reservoir and officially opening the Port Williams Community Park. Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations contributed $264,000 for the reservoir, while the Department of Health Promotion and Protection provided $25,000 for the park through the Recreation Facility Development grant program.