Wellington North has handed out over $10,000 to businesses as part of its community improvement plan and another $4,000 as part of the community initiate project program.
On June 25, council approved two CIP grants of $555 to Expressive Dance Studio in Arthur for façade improvement and $1,500 for the future development of 266 Queen Street West in Mount Forest.
During the same meeting, council also approved a $4,000 community initiated project grant to Arthur Minor Softball for a new ball diamond.
The grant covers 50 per cent of the cost of installing a junior baseball diamond in the back corner of the Arthur Community Centre.
“This is in relation to a junior ball diamond, which is one of the items identified through the recreation master plan,” said Mayor Andy Lennox.
“There are multiple uses and users of that property in Arthur, we’re sure that we’re not going to be conflicting with other users? I know that space is getting kind of tight.”
CAO Mike Givens said staff have done research about the area and are “cautiously optimistic” that the location will work well for all parties.
In 2018, a total of $50,000 has been budgeted for Community Initiate Projects, and four allocations totalling $22,750 have been approved.
Significant improvements
During its July 9 meeting, Wellington North council also awarded Marco and Mary Lou Guarino, owners of 360 Main Street North in Mount Forest four grants including:
– $2,500 under the façade improvement grant program;
– $2,500 under the building improvement grant program;
– $1,500 under accessibility grant program; and
– Up to $1,500 under the application fees and development charges grant program.
“The applicants are planning to make significant improvements to this location to be able to sell it, or re-open it as a drive-in restaurant,” stated the report.
The 2018 budget includes $25,000 for CIP grants; six applications have been submitted totalling $16,820.
