Council here may have voted in favour of a grant application, but some councillors are unsure about creating an “equine experience” in Erin.
Town economic development officer Robyn Mulder sought council’s approval on March 21 to proceed with a grant application for the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs’ rural economic development program.
She explained the grant would fund 50% of the cost to undertake the Creating the Equine Experience project.
“There are 400 equine properties in the town of Erin, 250 equine-related businesses and services with 750 jobs … that is a huge untouched potential for us,” Mulder said.
The grant would match the $10,000 already allocated in the 2017 operating budget. The project would update the existing Equine Economic Development Report completed by the citizens group Erin Equine Task Force.
Mulder brought a large map of the town that pinpoints the existing equine properties and businesses.
“When you look at that, it’s astounding and we’re not doing anything about it and I think we need to, or at least we need to know if we have something here that we can work with,” she said.
However, some councillors were wary of the idea.
Councillor Matt Sammut said he struggles with equine economic development.
“Yes, we’re absolutely an area with a lot of equine, and that’s not going to change … it’s the leverage that I don’t see,” he said. “I’m just not sure this is an area that will help our town longer term; industry will, I believe, and commercial will.”
Councillor Rob Smith also was not convinced.
“At the end of the day, horse people are kind of funny, in my opinion … at the end of the day, they seem to be in silos,” he said.
“I think there’s a lot of people in the horse industry that don’t want anything to do with anyone; they don’t want to see you at their farm.”
Mayor Allan Alls said he was unsure if this area of economic development would benefit the town, but said the town should “tap into it better than we have.”
However, councillor Jeff Duncan disagreed with the other councillors.
“I think it is an important part of the economy here,” he said. “People are investing hundreds of thousands (sometimes) millions of dollars into their operations here. Just because it’s something that we don’t do or are not part … I think it cannot be ignored.”
Mulder said at this point, the town would just be investigating what can be done.
“I think we need to investigate the possibilities of what could be,” she said.
Council voted in favour of proceeding with the grant application process. Councillor John Brennan was absent.
