Guysborough Journal Article About Yesterday's NR Here is how a local reporter sees the community benefits agreement:
Anaconda, MODG announce community benefits agreement.
Lots of details about the financial contributions to community groups. The article is quite positive.
As part of a community benefits agreement brokered with the Municipality of the District of Guysborough (MODG) – unveiled on Jan. 11 – the company said it will contribute annual grants of $15,000 to such organizations, until commercial production of gold begins, and then $100,000 per year for the life of the highly-anticipated project, if – and when – final approval is provided.
“It’s exceptional – that’s some serious coin,” Warden Vernon Pitts said of those coming monies in an interview with The Journal on the day of the announcement.
He also noted the financial pledge that Anaconda has also made to education, which includes five bursaries for local high school students. Starting with $5,000 this year, that fund will increase to $10,000 in 2025, or when commercial gold production begins. Details of the bursary program will be announced in March.
“We are very pleased,” Pitts offered of the provisions of what he described as Anaconda’s “hire local” focus.
As part of the community benefits agreement, the company has committed to implementing measures to help meet local recruitment and employment targets in both the construction and operational stages. They will also work with the Guysborough Career Resource Centre to assess local labour market training and employment opportunities. Anaconda will also focus on encouraging contractors, suppliers and service providers to maximize opportunities to hire locally and support businesses activities in the MODG.
“It is going to be a big boost for them,” Pitts said of the commitment to “engaging local businesses and suppliers to identify procurement and service opportunities.”
Anaconda will also provide its employees with $5,000 apiece to purchase or build homes in MODG.
“That will be great for us,” Pitts said, in reflecting on the possibilities associated with having more families in the area, including increased student enrolment at local schools; not to mention an increased tax base.