Ontario Infrastructure Minister Laurie Scott announced January 25 financial aid for municipal infrastructure needs through the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund (OCIF). The goal of the $200-million fund is to assist municipalities with their critical repair and upgrade work for local roads, bridges, sewer and water systems.

“COVID-19 has created (financial) challenges for everyone, including our municipal partners,” stated Scott in her announcement, adding the fund helps address “critical infrastructure” and also “strengthening local economies, creating jobs, and laying the foundation for our long-term recovery.”

The program addresses infrastructure needs in rural regions. OCIF money goes to communities with populations under 100,000.

Prescott-Russell will receive a total of $3,052,851 in OCIF funds, with the United Counties of Prescott-Russell getting the largest grant amount of $718,078. The next three largest amounts are $653,336 to Hawkesbury, $633,517 to Russell Township, and $591,090 to the City of Clarence-Rockland.

The Nation Municipality will receive $417,421, while Alfred-Plantagenet Township gets $296,569. OCIF funding for the Municipality of Casselman amounts to $183,318, while Champlain Township receives $136,778, and East Hawkesbury Township $56,261.

Stormont-Dundas-Glengarry

OCIF total funding for the Stormont-Dundas-Glengarry region amounts to more than $2.6 million, with the United Counties of Stormont-Dundas-Glengarry receiving $965,532.

The largest amounts of OCIF funding go to South Dundas Township with $418,782, South Glengarry Township at $333,052, and South Stormont Township at $314,843. North Dundas Township will receive $274,880, while North Glengarry Township gets $204,790 and North Stormont Township $119,052.