The provincial government is investing $343,900 into six local non-profit organizations, announced Sudbury MPP Rick Bartolucci in a news release.

“The McGuinty government has always been committed to strengthening local services in Sudbury, and through the Ontario Trillium Foundation, has been successful in enhancing the lives of many people in our community,” said Bartolucci in the release.

The investments are from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) and will be distributed as follows:

Eat Local Sudbury will receive $148,000 to hire bilingual staff and promote the purchase of locally grown products for the next three years.

The Sudbury Children’s Water Festival will receive $70,000 over the next two years to hire a festival and events co-ordinator.

The Independent Living Resource Centre will receive $45,000 to help increase access to sports and recreation for the next year.

The Sudbury Manitoulin Children’s Foundation will receive $32,000 for the purchase a fuel efficient vehicle to help make summer camps and other foundation programs more readily available for disadvantaged children.

The Azilda Community Pickerel Hatchery will receive $40,000 for the replacement of the roof and observation deck to make the facility more accessible to individuals of all ages and abilities.

The Valley East Figure Skating Club will receive $8,900 for the purchase a video camera, music system and computer to enhance figure skating programs for children and youth.

“Eat Local Sudbury Co-operative is embarking on several new initiatives that will strengthen community awareness of the benefits of eating local products,” said Emily Trottier, co-ordinator of Eat Local Sudbury Co-operative Inc., in the news release. “This movement is fuelled by the funding received from the Ontario Trillium Foundation and will enable local products to be more accessible to everyone year round.”

“The organizations our government is assisting are important to Sudburians of all ages and abilities and are a vital component of healthy lifestyles in our community,” said Bartolucci in the release.