Province Funds Shelburne Longboat Society

The Town of Shelburne is getting a boost from the province to develop a festival and tourist attraction based on the history of loyalist longboats.

The Department of Economic and Rural Development committed nearly $47,000 to the project through its Strategic Funding Initiatives program.

"The people of Shelburne and Southwest Nova Scotia have a proud history in the shipbuilding industry," said Economic and Rural Development Minister Percy Paris. "The festival will help the local economy by attracting visitors and providing opportunities for business growth."

The project will develop the longboat festival and related events on the Shelburne Waterfront. The theme of the festival will be based on last year's Loyalist Celebrations that helped establish the longboat as an icon for the area's tourism industry.

The total cost of the project is about $130,000. The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and the Town of Shelburne are other funding partners.

The first phase of the project is building a longboat viewing facility that will allow visitors to see how longboats are built. The second phase will creating the festival in 2010-11.

Investments through Economic and Rural Development's Strategic Funding Initiatives help to ensure economic growth and sustainable communities for Nova Scotia, building on their assets and strengths. Funding is provided on a one-time basis used for non-recurring capital costs and investments for not for profit organizations across the province.