A windfall of funding from the provincial government announced this morning will help the Town of Collingwood get more development projects through the planning process faster.
On Dec. 6, Simcoe-Grey MPP Brian Saunderson announced that the Town of Collingwood will receive up to $40,000 in funding through the latest intake of the Rural Economic Development (RED) program. The provincial grant program supports projects that diversify and grow local economies, build community capacity and address barriers to economic development and labour force challenges.
The funding will be matched by the Town of Collingwood as approved by council during their 2024 budget process to make improvements to their CityView software.
“This is going to help us right on the ground where we’re doing the necessary work needed for planning approvals. We’re hoping this will expedite our approval of housing,” said Mayor Yvonne Hamlin.
Through the most recent intake of the RED program, the Ontario government is investing more than $5.7 million in 85 projects across the province. Since 2019, the province has provided 473 grants through the program to the tune of $27 million.
“Our riding is home to several vibrant rural communities, all of them play an important role in our local
economy,” said Simcoe-Grey MPP Brian Saunderson. “In Collingwood, this funding will help fuel
development in a growing community that is a four-season destination for new residents and businesses.”
The town’s planning manager Lindsay Ayers explained that the town has used the software for many years and pays an annual fee for the use of the software, but the one-time infusion of funding will improve the processes within the town’s planning services division moving forward.
“It will streamline the development review and approval process,” said Ayers. “It will help with planning, but it also impacts other divisions such as building and engineers services. The ideal end result is a complete, seamless flow-through planning process starting with planning approvals and running right through to when they pull building permits to construct.”
