Region gets $4M in funding for shovel-ready projects

The Region of Waterloo has received just over $4 million from the federal and provincial governments for shovel-ready projects.

The funding, announced Wednesday, comes from the COVID-19 Resilience infrastructure stream, a pot of money that is part ofthe federal government's Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program.

But in order to use the cash, the region must act quickly. The work needs to begin before Sept. 30, 2021 and it must be completed by December 31, 2021.

Regional Chair Karen Redman says the region's COVID-19 recovery committee, chaired by Coun. Sean Strickland, had already made a list of shovel-ready projects that would benefit from federal and provincial funding.

"The need is about $30 million, so I don't think we're going to have any trouble at all, once there's clarity on connecting the dots between the specifications, on using the just over $4 million on regional projects," Redman said. "I'm confident that we will be able to use it appropriately."

Funding for 'important municipal projects'

The funding can be used on a number of different projects, including active transportation, disaster mitigation, new builds, shelters, or renovations to community buildings including child care and long-term care homes.

Kitchener-Conestoga MPP Mike Harris and Kitchener South-Hespeler MPP Amy Fee announced the funding one day ahead of the provincial budget.

Harris said the funding "will support important municipal projects" and will "play a crucial role in our local economic recovery."

The cities and townships have also received funding from this announcement. The breakdown in funding is:

• Region of Waterloo: $4,040,082.
• Kitchener $1,551,812.
• Waterloo $1,036,668.
• Cambridge $615,764.
• Woolwich $279,747.
• Wilmot $223,968.
• Wellesley $100,000.
• North Dumfries $100,000.