Collingwood is getting nearly $1.2 million of a $15.9 million funding announcement from the province for municipal road, bridge, water, and wastewater projects in the Simcoe-Grey electoral riding.
The province annually gives out funding under the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund, and the money has to be spent on infrastructure such as roads, bridges, hospitals, public transit and high-speed internet within five years.
Simcoe-Grey MPP Brian Saunderson announced the local allocation in a news release on Wednesday.
“Supporting small and rural communities throughout the large and growing riding of Simcoe-Grey is vital, and that includes providing sustainable infrastructure,” said Saunderson in the release. “The Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund provides significant funding to our municipalities for new projects while also improving and updating aging and critical infrastructure.”
Collingwood will receive $1,169,364 for 2025.
The County of Simcoe will receive $3.8 million and Grey County is getting $3.5 million.
The rest of the municipalities in the riding will receive the following amounts:
- Adjala-Tosorontio - $488,431
- Clearview - $641,451
- Essa - $700,599
- New Tecumseth - $2,409,548
- Town of the Blue Mountains - $1,934,768
- Wasaga Beach - $1,292,201
In total, the province is giving $400 million in community infrastructure funding to 423 small, rural, and northern communities for infrastructure projects.
Small municipalities are defined as communities with populations under 100,000 people. Funding allocations are calculated based on needs and economic conditions of the community.
Last year, the Town of Collingwood received $1.3 million through the fund.
When reached on Wednesday, Collingwood Mayor Yvonne Hamlin said in an email that she was pleased to receive the news of this year's provincial funding.
"Collingwood has many upcoming projects. At the same time, we need to look after our existing assets," said Hamlin. "Council will consider how these funds will be used during our upcoming 2025 budget discussions."
Hamlin referenced another provincial funding opportunity -- the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund -- and how Collingwood has been the only municipality in Simcoe County of its 16 members that doesn't receive anything through that envelope. She said she will be speaking with the province about it in the near future.
"All of our neighbouring municipalities receive this additional funding (at around the $1 million level). It would greatly benefit our community to be in a similar position," she said.
