Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound MPP Bill Walker has announced $ 5.9 million ($5,944,642) in Community Infrastructure funding (OCIF) for local municipalities.
Roughly $1.2 million is going to Owen Sound.
Director of Corporate Services Kate Allan says that money will go towards the next phase of the Downtown River Precinct Project, in the same way it went to the project last year.
The provincial government's formula-based fund aims to support municipalities with their infrastructure needs. It's part of what the province says is a $200 million commitment to 424 communities in 2020.
Work within Owen Sound's River Precinct project has included work on underground and above ground infrastructure including pipes, bridges and roads.
Allan says it also included beautifying the area, “We want to create a more inclusive, walkable space to really invigorate our downtown and bring people downtown and have a place that people want to come. So it will be great for events, it's a nice place to spend time.”
Total investment in communities across Bruce – Grey – Owen Sound this year are as follows:
* City of Owen Sound: $1,125,294
* Township of Chatsworth: $125,064
* Municipality of Northern Bruce Peninsula: $181,355
* Town of South Bruce Peninsula: $204,075
* Township of Georgian Bluffs: $224,363
* Town of Hanover: $233,348
* Township of Southgate: $236,674
* Municipality of Arran-Elderslie: $330,386
* Municipality of Grey Highlands: $436,207
* Municipality of West Grey: $448,807
* Municipality of Meaford: $458,173
* County of Grey: $1,279,946
* County of Bruce: $660,950
Owen Sound's Director of Corporate Services Kate Allan says, “Formula based committed, stable, predictable funding has, I beleive the most impact on our ability to do our capital program and make sound investment decisions.”
Allan explains it gives the City the advantage of being able to plan for the year ahead rather than seeing if they'll get money for a specific project they've applied for.
This funding has been ongoing in some form for the last handful of years. About $200 million in funding was also allocated to small, rural and northern communities in 2019. Municipalities can also accumulate their funding for up to five years to address larger infrastructure projects.