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Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Children and Youth Opportunities Minister Kevin Chief took part in the grand opening of the Neechi Commons Community Business Complex in Winnipeg’s North End, which houses a neighbourhood supermarket, restaurant, bakery, Aboriginal arts centre, farmers' market, local produce stands and boutiques. (L to R: Winnipeg City Councillor Ross Eadie, Manitoba Metis Federation President, David Chartrand, Neechi Foods President Louise Champagne, Children and Youth Opportunities Minister Kevin Chief)
Children and Youth Opportunities Minister Kevin Chief took part in the grand opening of the Neechi Commons Community Business Complex in Winnipeg’s North End, which houses a neighbourhood supermarket, restaurant, bakery, Aboriginal arts centre, farmers' market, local produce stands and boutiques. (L to R: Winnipeg City Councillor Ross Eadie, Manitoba Metis Federation President, David Chartrand, Neechi Foods President Louise Champagne, Children and Youth Opportunities Minister Kevin Chief)

March 19, 2013

GRAND OPENING OF THE NEECHI COMMONS COMMUNITY BUSINESS COMPLEX IN WINNIPEG


Winnipeg, Manitoba— The Neechi Commons Community Business Complex in Winnipeg officially opened today during an all-day celebration.
This 50,000 square foot property in Winnipeg’s North End was transformed into a complex that includes a neighbourhood supermarket, a cafeteria-style restaurant, a produce courtyard that features local fruit and vegetables, a bakery, specialty boutiques, an Aboriginal arts centre, and a farmers’ market. It will also provide local employment and training opportunities in the community. In addition, the complex will be a catalyst for revitalization of the local and commercial area.
“Our Government is proud to invest in this important community project that will create jobs and strengthen the local economy,” said the Honourable Steven Fletcher, Minister of State (Transport) and Member of Parliament for Charleswood - St. James - Assiniboia.  “This complex will provide access to grocery and other food services where there were none, as well as create good employment and training opportunities for the local community.”
“It’s encouraging to see locally driven projects like Neechi Food Co-Op become a reality,” said Minister of Children and Youth Opportunities Kevin Chief. “This is a wonderful example of the great things that can be accomplished through collaborative partnerships between government and local communities. The province will continue to provide funding support for exciting economic ventures like this.”
This community business complex will have a strong local development impact on Winnipeg’s Main Street and nearby neighbourhoods. It will promote regionally harvested and processed foods and cultivate strong cooperative relationships and community spirit.
“The infrastructure grants from the federal and provincial governments played a key role in the creation of Neechi Commons and helped to make years of work by members of the cooperative and other volunteers worthwhile,” noted the president of Neechi Foods Co-Op Ltd., Louise Champagne.
The governments of Canada and Manitoba each committed $1.3 million in funding under the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund toward the eligible costs of this project. The Manitoba government provided an additional $1 million, while the Neechi Commons group provided the remainder of the funding. The total cost of the construction for the project was $6.8 million.
As part of the Government of Canada’s Economic Action Plan, the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund supported more than 4,000 infrastructure projects across the country. Together, the federal government and Province of Manitoba committed close to $280 million to 111 projects under the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund across Manitoba.
For additional information about federal investments in infrastructure and to stay up-to-date with Web feeds, visit www.infrastructure.gc.ca.
To learn more about Manitoba’s infrastructure projects, please visit www.infrastructure.mb.ca.
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