Ontario Supports Rural Economic Development in Leeds & Grenville
Funding will support six local projects to create new economic opportunities,
attract investment and visitors, and plan for long-term growth
As part of its plan to protect rural communities, the Ontario government is investing $250,813 to support economic growth and long-term prosperity in Leeds and Grenville.
Steve Clark, MPP for Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes made the announcement today at the Spencerville Mill and Museum, which will receive $36,293. The Spencerville Mill Society will use the funding to install an elevator.
It’s one of six local grants announced by MPP Clark under the $20 million Rural Ontario Development (ROD) program.
“Strong rural communities are essential to our quality of life and building a resilient local economy,” said MPP Clark. “These investments will support six important local projects, helping to create new economic opportunities, attract investment and visitors, and plan for long-term growth. I’m pleased to be making this announcement at the Spencerville Mill and Museum, where the installation of an elevator will ensure everyone has access to this vital community hub.”
The other local ROD grant recipients announced by MPP Clark are:
Township of Rideau Lakes: $59,520 for a township-wide Historic Village Renewal project including streetscapes, wayfinding and landscaping.
Township of Edwardsburgh Cardinal: $50,000 for an industrial park expansion feasibility study.
Township of Elizabethtown-Kitley: $50,000 for a North Augusta Road employment lands servicing study.
Municipality of North Grenville: $35,000 for the Downtown Kemptville secondary plan.
Town of Gananoque: $20,000 for the Invested in our Future business retention, expansion, and investment attraction project.
Clark noted the latest intake for the Rural Ontario Development program opened for applications on August 17 with the deadline to submit on October 1 at 5 p.m.
“The Rural Ontario Development program demonstrates our government’s commitment to supporting small, rural and northern communities across Ontario,” said Lisa Thompson, Minister of Rural Affairs. “Through investments that support local priorities and economic development opportunities, we are helping rural communities build strong foundations for long-term success.”
“We are very grateful for the support provided through the Rural Ontario Development Program. This investment will help us continue to preserve the Spencerville Mill as an important part of our local heritage while improving the site for the people who visit, gather and celebrate here. For a small community museum, funding like this makes a meaningful difference in our ability to care for this historic building and ensure it remains accessible and welcoming for generations to come.”
— Jennifer Thivierge, Executive Director, Spencerville Mill & Museum
“Edwardsburgh Cardinal is strategically located and ready for substantial expansion and growth. We are thankful to the provincial government, Minister Thompson and MPP Clark for this important funding. These dollars will help us complete studies to plan the future of our industrial park expansion. It is a needed investment in our future, giving us the ability to attract new employers, support job creation, growth, and ensure Edwardsburgh Cardinal remains a great place to live, work, play and grow.”
— Tory Deschamps, Mayor, Township of Edwardsburgh Cardinal
“Through strategic investments in infrastructure, planning, and economic development, this council has worked diligently to create the conditions for sustainable growth and long-term prosperity in North Grenville. This funding from the Province of Ontario will support the development of a Downtown Kemptville Secondary Plan that will help to manage growth, strengthen the local economy, and enhance the vitality of our downtown core. We appreciate the crucial support and advocacy of MPP Steve Clark and the province as we continue building a strong and resilient future for our community.”
— Nancy Peckford, Mayor, Municipality of North Grenville
“On behalf of the Town of Gananoque I would like to express our appreciation and thanks to Ministry of Rural Affairs and to our MPP Steve Clark for their support of our efforts to understand and enhance opportunities for our local businesses. This investment, through the Rural Ontario Development grant stream will enable our planned Invested in our Future: Business Retention, Expansion (BR&E) & Investment Attraction Project. We are grateful for this funding which will help us do the work to enable an optimized, data-informed and data-driven approach to the allocation of municipal resources and advocacy to enhance business retention and success as well as set conditions for attraction of new investment in our local economy.”
— John Beddows, Mayor, Town of Gananoque
“Elizabethtown-Kitley is very grateful for the contribution of up to $50,000 that the province has made available toward our North August Road Employment Lands Servicing Study. Along with other strategic investments that we have already made, this study will take us one step closer to getting these lands shovel-ready and positioning them to become a new economic engine for the township and the region. Every investment in our local economy contributes to the strength of our provincial and national economies. Now, more than ever, it is critical that we continue to invest wisely and leverage partnerships like the one we are celebrating today.
— Brant Burrow, Mayor, Township of Elizabethtown-Kitley
“This investment is a catalyst for turning community visions into action, enhancing the historic character of our villages, and preparing Rideau Lakes to build toward the 200th anniversary of the Rideau Canal in 2032.” — Arie Hoogenboom, Mayor, Township of Rideau Lakes
Through the first intake of the ROD program, the province is investing over $5.5 million in 116 projects across rural Ontario.
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