ELORA – Centre Wellington council agreed to a development charge (DC) late payment agreement between the township and Stirling Marathon at its April 25 council meeting.
Stirling Marathon broke ground in Elora in 2021 for a 30,000 square foot warehouse facility on Park Road and wants to add manufacturing to its portfolio. The company has a plan to add another 48,000 square feet to the building and begin manufacturing fridges and freezers.
Stirling’s president Doug Greenway was at the meeting to request the development fees be deferred.
Council had already agreed to a late payment of DCs from Stirling on the original facility and township staff worked out a repayment plan that would include moneys owing plus the new DCs on the expanded facility.
Managing director of planning and development Brett Salmon proposed a payment plan of $132,000 a year over five years with the first payment to be made in August next year.
This would help the company with cash flow during construction and start-up. Stirling Marathon also received some funding from the province earlier this year.
Greenway said he expects the company will hire 50 more people over the next few years, “and we’re hopeful it will be more.”
He expects the first appliances to roll off the line in March or April next year.
“These will be good jobs. We’ll be looking for advanced operators,” Greenway said. “Our sights are high.”
“This is good news for economic development,” Salmon said.
Council unanimously supported the motion.
