A new business district is being developed next to the Trans-Canada Highway to help stimulate economic development in the region thanks to a partnership between the Town of St. Leonard, the Government of Canada and the Province of New Brunswick.

Called the Carrefour économique de la vallée, the economic development project will help bring new businesses to St. Leonard. Already, a new service centre and truck facility have been built. Upgrades to the Gervais access road ensure that the area can accommodate the heavier traffic which will result as development continues.

“The Government of Canada, through ACOA’s strategic community investments, is proud to contribute to this project that will significantly increase economic activity in the St. Leonard area,” said Jean-Claude D’Amours, M.P. for Madawaska-Restigouche, on behalf of the Honourable Joseph McGuire, Minister for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA). “It is essential that communities develop the infrastructure needed to enhance their economic development and prosperity. SCIF was designed to support initiatives such as this that will benefit the entire Madawaska region.”

“As an important building block of Greater Opportunity: New Brunswick's Prosperity Plan, building strategic infrastructure is important for economic growth in every region of New Brunswick," said Hon Percy Mockler, Minister of Intergovernmental and International Relations, on behalf of Premier Bernard Lord, Minister responsible for the Regional Development Corporation. "The contribution affirms our commitment to invest in key infrastructure that improves the quality of life for New Brunswickers and attracts new investment to the province."

“Rue Gervais is the most important infrastructure in the development of economic opportunities in the Carrefour économique de la Vallée. The residents in this region are indeed satisfied that this project will create much needed new jobs,” said Roland Martin, Mayor of St. Leonard.

Since the construction of an exit to Gervais Road from the Trans-Canada, the municipality is noticing a growth in its economic activity. The strategic location at the intersection of Route 2 (Trans Canada Highway) between Fredericton and Edmundston and Route 17, which goes to Campbellton, has led to the construction of three restaurants and two service stations. Other businesses, including a bulk fuel and diesel fuel distributor and a convenience store, are expected to set up shop in the area.

After a study into traffic volumes on Gervais Road, the Town of St. Leonard decided to go ahead with a project to extend and widen the access road to better serve the companies moving into the industrial area.

The extension of the access road positions the Town of St. Leonard to move forward with the business district project that was identified in its strategic plan. The business district represents an economic development opportunity for the entire region.

The economic development project is made possible thanks to a $365,000 investment from the Regional Development Corporation and a $153 663 investment from ACOA. The municipality has injected $126 000 into the construction of Gervais Road in 2002-2003.

ACOA’s Strategic Community Investment Fund (SCIF) was created to support strategic initiatives that contribute to community economic development in Atlantic Canada. With the launch of the Atlantic Investment Partnership - The Second Wave in July 2005, the new Innovative Communities Fund (ICF), built on the foundation laid by the SCIF, ICF will continue to respond to the unique and varying economic development needs of communities in Atlantic Canada.

For further information contact:

Valérie Poulin
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Joseph McGuire
Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
(613) 941-7241

Bruce MacFarlane
Regional Development Corporation
(506) 444-4606

Stéphanie Bilodeau
Senior Communications Officer
ACOA N.B.
(506) 452-3304

Roland Martin
Mayor of St. Leonard
(506) 423-3111