Grant to North Grenville to support local infrastructure

0
44

The Ontario government is providing $669,549 to help build and repair local infrastructure in North Grenville. This investment more than doubles the 2021 grant of $299,716.

“This investment of $669,549 will help North Grenville address its infrastructure needs and ensure that the community’s infrastructure continues to be safe and reliable.” said Steve Clark, MPP for Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes. “By investing an additional $1 billion over the next five years, our government will help communities across Ontario repair local infrastructure, support economic growth, and create local jobs.”

Mayor Nancy Peckford welcomed the new funding and indicated how it will be used by the Municipality of North Grenville.

“Council is thrilled to receive more OCIF dollars than we had anticipated for community capital investments. Part of the funds are being dedicated to accelerating improvements to rural roads in poor condition, including parts of Pelton, Crozier, Latourell, and Stone Road, as well as the completion of the sidewalk on George Street. The remaining approximately $360,000 will be directed to key public works projects decided on by Council in the New Year.”

The multi-year funding is being delivered through the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund (OCIF) and will bring the government’s total investment to nearly $2 billion over the next five years. The OCIF supports local infrastructure projects for communities with populations under 100,000, along with all rural and northern communities.

“Our small, rural, and northern communities will be at the forefront of our efforts to build Ontario for the future,” said Premier Doug Ford. “With this investment, we are saying ‘yes’ to helping these communities build and repair the vital infrastructure they need to keep their communities working for decades to come.”

Funding allocations are based on a formula that recognizes the different needs and economic conditions of communities across the province. The new formula includes an increased funding minimum of $100,000 for all communities per year, up from $50,000 over previous years.

“Communities are the heartbeat of this province and we know they are facing unique infrastructure needs and challenges, especially as we navigate through the pandemic,” said Kinga Surma, Minister of Infrastructure. “Our government has been with them every step of the way. When we were told more funding supports were needed, we listened and acted in a meaningful way by providing the largest OCIF increase since the start of the program. By doing so, we’re providing stability and predictability to small, rural and northern communities to repair, upgrade, and modernize their critical infrastructure so that they are safer, healthier, and more reliable for all.”

The Province’s investment in OCIF is part of the 2021 Ontario Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review: Build Ontario. The plan lays out how the government will build Ontario’s future with shovels in the ground for highways, hospitals, long-term care, housing, and high-speed internet. To ensure all families, workers and businesses in the province have a better and brighter future, our government’s planned infrastructure investments over the next decade total more than $148 billion.

For 2021, approximately $200 million in funding was allocated to 424 small, rural and northern communities. Municipalities may accumulate their funding for up to five years to address larger infrastructure projects.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here