Justice Minister Rob Nicholson hands a cheque for $297,500 to Sandy White, chair of the South Niagara Community Futures Development Corp. The funding will go towards operations.

The federal government handed nearly $300,000 over to the South Niagara Community Futures Development Corp. Friday, June 20, with H.H. Knoll Lakeview Park as a backdrop.

This weekend the park will be a hotspot when Flavours of Niagara takes to the lakeside park grounds. SNFCDC took the lead alongside the city last year to bring an international food, wine and jazz festival to Port Colborne.

Federal funding of $297,500 was announced Friday by Justice Minister Rob Nicholson as part of the Conservative government's Community Futures Program. The funding will be used to support the organization's ongoing operations for the next year.

"All levels of government are looking for new ways to stimulate a stagnant tourism economy," said chair Sandy White. "Through operational funding the CFDC can develop additional community economic development projects, like Flavours of Niagara, which make a real difference in the communities we serve."

This past year SNCFDC expanded its operations to include Fort Erie and Niagara Falls. White said the communities were under serviced and qualified under the organization's mandate -- to create jobs, lend capital and pursue projects that will make a lasting impact on communities with a population under 100,000.

"The south Niagara CFDC has grown to become a real contributor to the economic success of the entire region and our government is proud to support their ongoing efforts," Nicholson said following the funding announcement. "This funding will allot the CFDC to foster our economic diversification, strengthen the small business sector and create jobs."

Nicholson said organizations like the SNFCDC are vital to the economy of the entire country.

The SNCFDC was created in 1986 to provide leadership and resources to help launch new business ventures in Port Colborne and Wainfleet.