I am pleased to be here today as the Member of Parliament for Leeds-Grenville to help announce funding for a project that I believe will bring new economic prosperity to one of our country's oldest industries, the Forestry Sector.

Finding and identifying new economic drivers in our rural communities, such as through the forestry industry, is a key to our future success here in Leeds-Grenville.

The announcement today relates to a project that aims to establish a connection between sustainable forests to the marketplace, triggering a transformation of the forest based economy of Eastern Ontario into a sustainable biobased/forest focused economy.

I am pleased to see that Eastern Ontario is taking the lead in developing new technology and moving old industries into new phases of development.

This of course, is all possible thanks to the Eastern Ontario Development Program.

Federally funded but locally operated, the EODP program puts federal economic development money to work where it can accomplish the most good in our communities.

The local staff and board of directors at the Community Futures Development Programs are in the best position to decide where local economic development can work.

I am pleased that we have extremely talented and strong boards in Leeds-Grenville - people who can look at complex projects such as the one being funded today, and realize how it can benefit the local community.

Strong partnerships in our community confirm the ability to execute and deliver on these regional projects

Once again thank you for inviting me to be here today.

On behalf of the Federal Government, Industry Canada/Fednor, EO CDFC Network Inc. and the Grenville CFDC we want to congratulate Eastern Ontario Model Forest as recipient and the Twp of Edwardsburgh/Cardinal as a key partner on the project and present you with this check for $130,000 towards this innovative project.