Minto council briefs: grants, construction, renovation

Disability organization

PALMERSTON – The owner of Building Bridges Adult Day Program is receiving a grant for new window displays.

Sierra-Lynn Moreira runs the program and provides inclusive services to adults diagnosed with developmental disabilities.

The new signage will showcase services available at the location, aligning with its logo colours: red, yellow, blue and green. The organization has been granted $216 to help with the total cost of $433.

The signage grant program was initiated in 2009 and has been helping businesses ever since.

The Community Improvement Program (CIP)has a budget of $50,000 this year.

Council voted unanimously to approve the grant.

Structural grant

HARRISTON – Council approved a staff recommendation for a one-bedroom bachelor apartment in support of affordable housing.

The owner of McDonald Chiropractic, Dr. Shawn McDonald, wants to create an apartment in the basement of the building, located at 12 Elora Street in downtown Harriston.

The project will total just over $37,000, and staff supported a grant of $3,715, funded through the town’s CIP.

Mayor Dave Turton stepped away during the meeting because of a conflict of interest, as McDonald is a family member.

Reroot Organic Farm

HARRISTON – Reroot Organic Farm plans to place a certified kitchen on a second floor of the farm’s shop, and have zero food waste.

Reroot has an on-farm store and features Reroot products as well as other local, organic products from neighbouring farms.

Caitlin Hall, owner of the 70-acre farm, grows more than 40 types of vegetables and herbs, produces a wide range of fruit, and raises chickens, pigs, and other animals on the outskirts of Harriston.

The purpose of adding the kitchen is to create value-added meals – frozen and preserves – with the intent of focusing on what’s in season with the intention of eliminating food waste.

Hall wants to teach the community how to preserve food, and will eventually open the kitchen to chefs.

The farm has been granted $957 to help with the total cost of about $20,500.

The grant dollars are funded  through the CIP.

Reporter