Announcements at this week’s Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) conference left lots for small communities to be excited about.
Premier Doug Ford emphasized the government’s commitment to rural Ontario, stating, “our government will never ignore the needs of rural Ontario”.
Lisa Thompson, the Minister of Food, Agriculture and Rural Affairs, said that they were excited to open applications for the Rural Economic Development (RED) Program once again – it has been a success since it’s introduction in 2019, with an investment of $21.6 million in over 380 projects across the province. Applications for the RED Program are open until February 21.
She also announced the initiation of consultations for the development of a new Rural Economic Development Strategy – which aims to gather input from rural municipalities and the public on enhancing economic opportunities, job creation, and growth.
The province also announced the expansion of the $1.2 billion Building Faster Fund (BFF) to include small, rural, and northern municipalities without assigned housing targets.
Ten percent, equivalent to $120 million, of the BFF will be specifically allocated to these areas for building housing-enabling infrastructure.
Written by: B. Shakyaver