Wellington North has received a portion of provincial funding aimed at improving municipal main streets.
The township was allocated $48,185 of $26 million from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) administered through the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO).
According to an April 9 report to council, the funds can be put toward the community improvement plan, including facade improvements, preservation and adaptive reuse of heritage buildings, space conversion, accessibility enhancements and more.
The money can also be used to support signage, streetscaping and marketing.
“I’m happy with the main street revitalization; I find it interesting that it came from the ministry of agriculture, but I’ll take one,” said councillor Steve McCabe.
Economic development officer Dale Small said the township will meet with both the Arthur and Mount Forest chambers of commerce to discuss how the funds can be spent.
“Seems like there’s a fair bit of latitude too, to the types of things that we can spend it on,” noted Mayor Andy Lennox.
Funds received from the program can only be used for expenses incurred after April 1 and all funds must be spent by March 31, 2020.
Council approved the recommendation to sign an agreement with AMO for the funds.
Councillor Sherry Burke was absent.
