The county and five of its lower tier municipalities received and early Valentine’s Day gift last week in the form of almost $12.1-million in infrastructure funding through the Building Canada Fund.
Guelph-Eramosa, Minto, Wellington North, Puslinch, Mapleton and the county all received the federal and provincial funding, which will cover two-thirds of the cost of their respective projects.
Each municipality will contribute the remaining third, to complete projects with a total combined cost of just under $18.15-million.
Local MPs Gary Schellenberger and Michael Chong and MPPs John Wilkinson and Ted Arnott heralded the announcements because they will not only “reduce red tape” and get shovels in the ground sooner, but also create local jobs in a slumping economy.
“Right now there is no better time for all governments to invest in infrastructure for our local rural communities,” Wilkinson said on Feb. 13. “It will create jobs today and lay the foundation for a stronger economy tomorrow.”
Guelph-Eramosa Township was the biggest winner of the day, receiving $4.13-million in funding to help build phase one of a new $6.2-million multi-purpose recreational facility in Marden Park.
“This is a tremendous announcement for our residents – a real community changer for us and we appreciate the support from the federal and provincial governments,” Mayor Chris White said. “It will provide us with a world class facility for the benefit of residents of all ages.”
Phase one of the park’s master plan includes a 50,000 square foot indoor Sports field with artificial turf and an indoor track, as well as an outdoor football field.
The township will cover its portion of about $2.07-million through a debenture, which will be paid off at a rate of about $155,000 annually.
Wellington North will receive over $2.76-million in funding to help complete a new $4.15-million sewage pumping station in Mount Forest.
Mayor Mike Broomhead was ecstatic with the announcement, because it will help solve a number of problems in his municipality. He called the Durham Street pumping station the second most important station in the township and the most pressing infrastructure project in the municipality.
The project – which will include the reconstruction of two blocks of Normanby Street, from Durham Street to Wellington Street, to provide an improved outlet configurations for the pumping station – will not only support continued growth in Mount Forest, but it will also help eliminate flooding and will have other positive effects, Broomhead said.
Like Guelph-Eramosa, Puslinch Township will also be using its funding to build a multi-use recreational facility, at a total cost of about $2.15-million.
The township and the federal and provincial governments will each contribute $716,328 to help build a partially enclosed ice pad for the Aberfoyle park that could also be used year round for other Sports like ball hockey and basketball, as well as for a picnic area and possibly even a farmer’s market.
“This is a very exciting announcement for our small community,” Mayor Brad Whitcombe said. “This a great investment that will create jobs and provide a facility that will be well used by our community.”
Whitcombe also thanked the Optimist Club of Puslinch, which has also taken a key role in initiating and supporting the project.
“The Optimist Club of Puslinch is elated with today’s announcement,” said Ken Williams, club president.
The Town of Minto received almost $1.41-million in funding to help with a project at the Harriston sewage treatment facility. The work, which include upgrades at the plant, as well as pipes leading into it, will cost a total of $2.11-million.
Mayor David Anderson said his municipality was disappointed during previous Canada Ontario Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (COMRIF) funding announcements, and thanked Wilkinson for his recent efforts on behalf of Minto, noting every municipality in the Perth-Wellington riding received funding this time around.
Mapleton Township will contribute $558,467 for upgrades at its wastewater treatment plant, with the federal and provincial governments matching that amount to cover the total cost of over $1.67-million.
“The people of Mapleton will be very appreciative of this,” Mayor John Green told Schellenberger and Wilkinson at an announcement at the township’s office.
“We’re very excited about the project and we look forward to working with our federal and provincial representatives in the future.”
Green explained the township’s sewage treatment plant has operated at capacity recently and the new funding will help deliver “a much-needed expansion.” He added the township will cover its portion of the costs with reserves.
Centre Wellington will benefit from a county grant of over $1.24-million in federal and provincial funding to replace the Rea Bridge on County Road 16. The total cost of the bridge will be over $1.86-million.
“We are indeed delighted with the funding received today addressing an infrastructure need in Centre Wellington for bridge construction,” said Centre Wellington Mayor and county Warden Joanne Ross-Zuj. “We value the partnership we have with the upper orders of government and we thank you for investing in our community.”
Across the province, 289 projects will soon break ground thanks to the investment of more than $1-billion in federal, provincial and municipal funding under the Building Canada Fund.
But locally, noticeably absent was any funding to benefit the Town of Erin.
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