The Rural Economic Development Program will provide three projects in the Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound area with a total of $120,762.59 in funding. MPP Bill Walker announced $35,012.59 to help the County of Grey attract and retain international workers in the rural Grey-Bruce Region. He said $19,250 will support a project by the Saugeen Economic Development Corporation for business attraction, expansion and retention as well as succession planning in response to rural economic development barriers. And $66,500 goes to Asset Management Ontario (AMONTario) to help introduce asset management concepts to 30 economic developers representing rural, northern, and Indigenous communities.
“This is great news for our local communities as we continue to recover from COVID-19,” said Walker. “I’m thrilled to see our government continuing to invest in Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound and I want thank Minister Hardeman for this support.”
“This new targeted funding is just one of the many ways our government is supporting job creation and economic development across the province,” said Ernie Hardeman, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. “We’re encouraging local economic growth by supporting projects that help expand businesses and provide skills development and training for employees. These kinds of investments are particularly important as we lay the foundation for our recovery from COVID-19.”
Walker says this intake was directed at upper-tier municipalities and not-for-profit regional organizations with a mandate focused on regional economic development. Qualifying projects would be eligible for up to 70 per cent of total costs to a maximum of $75,000 in provincial funding. It was was focused on projects that remove barriers to business and job growth, attract investment, attract or retain a skilled workforce, strengthen sector and regional partnerships and diversify regional economies.
