Shelburne set to receive $1.3 million provincial infrastructure grants

February 25, 2015 · 0 Comments

The Town of Shelburne will be receiving a healthy cheque from the province in the amount of $1,282,177. These funds will be used to upgrade water mains and sanitary sewers to ensure sufficient water for fire protection and looping.
Through the ‘Building Stronger Communities’ initiative, Ontario further announced approved 77 similar grants, in varying amounts, funding infrastructure projects throughout the province, specifically in small, rural and northern municipalities.
Included in those grants is $1,898,706 for water main and sanitary sewer system replacement in Orangeville. These funds should also cover the repairs required by any affected roadways.
In a statement released by the province earlier this week, it is further hoped that the grant approvals will help to create jobs across the province this summer, as funded projects get underway.
“Roads, bridges and water infrastructure are essential to rural communities across the province,” said Jeff Leal, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. “By partnering with communities and investing in these projects, our government is committed to ensuring municipalities have the tools they need to build and maintain critical infrastructure.”
“Investing in essential infrastructure projects not only increases the quality of life in communities across Ontario, but also creates jobs and generates significant economic growth in areas that need it most. I’m pleased that we are moving forward with our plan to support small, rural and northern communities, and we will continue partnering with municipalities across Ontario to make unprecedented infrastructure investments,” added Brad Duguid, Minister of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure
The Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund provides $100 million per year in funding for critical road, bridge, water and wastewater projects. $50 million is available per year in fair and transparent formula-based funding and another $50 million per year in application-based funding.
To be eligible for the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund, municipalities must have a population of less than 100,000 as of the 2011 census or be located in northern or rural Ontario.

By Wendy Gabrek