Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound MPP Bill Walker says three local projects are receiving a total of $120,762 in funding through the Rural Economic Development (RED) program.
Walker announced the following three projects have received funding:
Asset Management Ontario’s Municipal Asset Management for Economic Development will receive $66,500 to introduce asset management concepts to 30 economic developers representing rural, northern, and Indigenous communities,
The aim is to better understand how to maximize potential investments and build economic development capacity.
Grey County is receiving about $32,000 for its Making Grey and Bruce Home for International Talents campaign which looks to attract and retain international workers. Walker’s office says the project will provide supports for international students from Georgian College through information, mentoring and referrals to community services and employers.
The Saugeen Economic Development Corporation Saugeen Connects in AWE and Succession Planning will receive $19,250 to conduct a two-pronged project of business attraction, expansion and retention as well as succession planning in response to rural economic development barriers.
Walker says in a statement, “This is great news for our local communities as we continue to recover from COVID-19,” adding, “I’m thrilled to see our government continuing to invest in Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound and I want thank Minister Hardeman for this support.”
Hardeman, who is Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, says, “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.”
The local funding is part of nearly $800,000 for 16 projects approved through the Rural Economic Development (RED) program.