BLAINE LAKE AND MARCELIN AREA SBLAs RECOGNIZED FOR 72 JOBS CREATED

Released on April 26, 1999

Redberry Lake MLA Walter Jess, on behalf of Economic and Co-operative

Development Minister Janice MacKinnon, today recognized the Blaine

Lake Economic Development Co-operative and the Marcelin and District

Small Business Co-operative for their job creation records through the

Small Business Loans Association (SBLA) program.



The two organizations have helped create 62 full-time jobs and

10 part-time jobs. During 1998, small businesses supported by the

SBLA program created more than 360 jobs and maintained over 565 more,

mostly in rural communities. This brought the total number of jobs

created and maintained since the program began to almost 12,800.



On behalf of MacKinnon, Jess presented job creation certificates to

Ed Lozowchuk, chairperson of the Blaine Lake Economic Development

Co-operative, which has created 38 full-time jobs and seven part-time

jobs; and to Wayne King, chairperson of the Marcelin and District

Small Business Co-operative, which has created 24 full-time jobs and

three part-time jobs.



Examples of local businesses assisted by SBLA loans include service

stations, food service outlets and various retail businesses.



"I am very pleased to honour the Blaine Lake Economic Development

Co-operative and the Marcelin and District Small Business

Co-operative for their job creation efforts," Jess said. "SBLAs

are an important part of the province's focus on working with

local communities to create opportunities and jobs for the people

in their area."



Under the SBLA program, the government provides funding to local

SBLA organizations. In turn, SBLAs provide loans to businesses

that have experienced difficulty accessing financing through

traditional means.



Improvements to the program announced in the new provincial

budget include an increase in each SBLA's interest-free revolving

line of credit from $50,000 to $100,000. As well, an SBLA can

now make loans to a maximum of $10,000, up from $5,000.



"The SBLA funding has initiated significant growth in this

province and this growth is an example of what can be achieved

when the government and communities work in partnership," Jess

said. "The assistance SBLAs provide plays an important part in

building our rural economy, creating jobs and keeping our

communities healthy and strong."



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For more information, contact:



Bob Ellis

Economic and Co-operative Development

Regina

Phone: (306) 787-1691