PALMERSTON – On Sept. 26 at the Palmerston Railway Heritage Museum, Perth Wellington MPP Mathew Rae announced over $307,000 in Rural Economic Development funding for seven projects across Perth-Wellington.
The funding is part of the Rural Economic Development (RED) program, which looks to support projects that build up the community and address barriers to economic development and labour force challenges.
“Rural Ontario generates more than $300 billion annually in economic activity, and over 1.2 million people go to work in rural Ontario every single day,” said Rae, “and I know our provincial government understands the importance of rural Ontario to our economy.”
Through the most recent intake by the RED program, the Government of Ontario is spending more than $5.7 million on 85 projects across the province with the hope that these projects will help create jobs and boost economic development in rural communities in Ontario.
Rae also announced that $11,000 of the funding would be going to the restoration of the Palmerston Railway Heritage Museum to fix its train caboose.
“The Palmerston railway museum restoration project will be receiving over $11,000 to help restore their beautiful historic caboose as well,” said Rae.
“I know the railway museum and the grounds here are the jewel of Palmerston and I know countless hours go into both the caboose, but also the museum and the grounds here.”
The Town of Minto received $11,388 in funding, County of Perth received $38,875, County of Wellington received $22,500, Municipality of North Perth received $17,350, United Way Perth Huron received $25,461, and the Here For Now Theatre Company received $191,657 for its Here For Now Micro Theatre.
The Township of Puslinch also received $49,500 to support downtown renovations of Aberfoyle and Morriston.
“Our government recognizes the importance of rural economic development, and this program provides municipalities, Indigenous communities, and not-for-profits with the funding they need for projects that contribute to local economic vitality,” said Minister of Rural Affairs Lisa Thompson, in a press release.
“The Rural Economic Development program is another example of how our government is ensuring small towns and rural communities across Ontario continue to share in the province’s growth and economic prosperity,” she stated.
