The Agency for Reconstruction and Development Inc. (ARD), in partnership with the U.S. Government acting through the U. S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is pleased to announce the official handing over of the New Hampshire Community Centre to the Government and people of Grenada on Tuesday, August 30, 2005. The handing over ceremony, which begins at 4:30 p.m., will feature addresses by Prime Minister Dr. the Rt. Hon. Keith Mitchell, Minister of Community Development Senator the Hon. Adrian Mitchell and a U. S. Government Official, as well as community leaders. The New Hampshire Community Centre is one of five community centres being rehabilitated under the $13.4 million (US) final phase of the USAID Community Rehabilitation Programme. The other centres are located at Boca, which has been completed and will be handed over at a later date, Vendome, Pearls and La Digue, for which construction has commenced. This Programme is part of Phase II of the USAID Expanded Hurricane Recovery Programme. Repairs for the New Hampshire and Boca Community Centres total $115,000 (US), while repairs for the Vendome, Pearls and La Digue Community Centres total $150,000 (US). Hurricane-safe construction methods are applied for all six centres so that the facilities can serve as shelters if a hurricane or other natural disaster occurs. The rehabilitation of community centres is part of the U.S. Government’s $40 million (US) assistance programme for Grenada, which was initiated following the devastation caused by Hurricane Ivan on September 7, 2004. The programme focuses on community rehabilitation, school rehabilitation and economic revitalisation, as well as budget support to the Government of Grenada. Source: Agency for Reconstruction and Development