A plan to build a multi-use community hub in Chatsworth suffered a setback as the Township has been informed it will not be nominated for federal review to receive grant dollars through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program.
Chatsworth Mayor Scott Mackey says the news is “upsetting” as many volunteers put in countless hours towards site preparation, building design and fundraising.
But, Mackey assures the township will continue preparing to build the community hub and fully expects Chatsworth will eventually receive the funding it needs.
“This is just a setback. It’s not that the project is dead,” Mackey explains. “At some point I think we will be successful in getting both federal and provincial dollars. It just wasn’t this time around.”
According to a Township of Chatsworth spokesperson, ICIP officials indicated this intake for the Community, Culture and Recreation funding stream was highly competitive, as demand for grants reached upwards of $10-billion while only $1-billion in funding was available.
Late last year, Chatsworth Township selected the site of the former Chatsworth Arena as the location where a new multi-use community hub will be built. Conceptual drawings of the proposed facility were also completed.
The facility would include an ice surface, a walking track above the rink, a community hall, a daycare, a health clinic, a senior’s activity room and community outreach services, according to past Bayshore Broadcasting reports.
The estimated cost of the new community hub is about $15-million. Under the ICIP application that was rejected, Chatsworth would have been responsible for about $4-million.
Mackey acknowledges Chatsworth can’t finance the project on its own and will need grant dollars from the federal and provincial governments to make it a reality.
As for what’s next? Mackey notes council has approved spending on engineering costs to continue site preparation while the fundraising committee for the proposed multi-use facility in Chatsworth plans to continue with different events once Covid-related restrictions are lifted.
“We’re going to keep working at it, and the next opportunity we’ll be there applying again,” Chatsworth’s mayor says.
