Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound MPP Bill Walker has announced that five local projects will receive up to $447,786 in funding through Ontario’s Rural Economic Development (RED) program.
These are five of the more than 60 projects the Ontario government is supporting to help diversify local economies, retain skilled workers and create jobs in communities like Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound. The Province is committing a total of $5 million in cost-share funding in this latest intake of the RED program.
Local projects receiving funding are:
Town of South Bruce Peninsula – The Town of South Bruce Peninsula will revitalize the main street in Wiarton by installing decorative lighting, street furniture, landscaping, sun shelters, bicycle racks, wayfinding signs and public WiFi. Provincial share amount: $205,203
Municipality of West Grey – The Municipality of West Grey will create a cohesive look in four communities by installing pole banners, waste receptacles, street benches and bicycle stands. Provincial share amount: $10,773
Town of Hanover – The Town of Hanover will rehabilitate the Hanover Civic Theatre. Identified functionality deficiencies for improvement include washroom upgrades, accessibility improvements, flooring refinishing, entrance way improvements, as well as lighting and stage upgrades, sound control booth safety, a new sound system and house upgrades. Provincial share: $187,530
Municipality of Grey Highlands – The Municipality of Grey Highlands will implement the second year of the [re]IMAGINE Grey Highlands Downtown Revitalization project that will expand on streetscaping undertakings (decorative lighting, plants/flowers, landscaping, banners, benches and waste receptacles) in Markdale, Flesherton, Priceville, Maxwell, Kimberley, Eugenia, Feversham and Rocklyn. Provincial share: $28,380
Municipality of Northern Bruce Peninsula – The Municipality of Northern Bruce Peninsula and the Tobermory and District Chamber of Commerce will install wayfinding signage and public wifi to both enhance the visitor experience and mitigate the negative impacts of tourism traffic on residents. Provincial share: $15,900
“This is terrific news for our local communities. I’m excited to see that these worthwhile projects have received support,” said Walker. “This funding will be a significant boost to our local economic development initiatives.”
“Supporting local jobs and economic development in rural communities is more important than ever,” said Lisa Thompson, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. “As the economy continues to reopen, our investments in the Rural Economic Development program will have a very real impact for communities across rural Ontario.”
In addition, the Ontario government is committing $5 million in cost-share funding under the next intake of the RED program to help rural communities implement additional economic growth plans to address the economic impacts of COVID-19. The new RED intake will open on August 30.
Ontario’s Rural Economic Development (RED) program will allow rural communities to better respond to the local economic impacts of the pandemic, by supporting actions that will address barriers to economic development, and better position rural communities for economic growth and job creation.
Economic growth in rural and Indigenous communities during COVID-19 is part of the government’s plan to get every region of Ontario back on track so they can create jobs, opportunity and prosperity for everyone.
