Ontario Supporting Economic Development in Uxbridge, ON

 MPP Peter Bethlenfalvy announces successful project from the Rural Economic Development Program 

 

Today, Peter Bethlenfalvy, MPP for Pickering-Uxbridge announced that the Township of Uxbridge will receive up to $36,850 in funding through Ontario’s Rural Economic Development (RED) program. The Township of Uxbridge will develop an app to allow trail users to pay for parking and receive notifications of promotions and events taking place at local businesses here in Uxbridge. 

This is one of more than 60 projects the Ontario government is supporting to help diversify local economies, retain skilled workers and create jobs in communities like Uxbridge. 

Through today’s investment, our government is creating jobs and driving economic recover at a time when needed most in Uxbridge,” said MPP Peter Bethlenfalvy. “By investing in modernizing Uxbridge’s downtown, we are ensuring more opportunities stay in the Township of Uxbridge while removing barriers to investments and economic growth in our rural community, said Bethlenfalvy.” 

“We are very pleased to receive this grant and launch this project. We have lots of visitors to the Regional trail network, but few who visit our local shops. This project will allow us to market Uxbridge Township stores and services directly to those visitors as part of a parking permit system. We are thankful for the continued financial support from OMAFRA and the Region of Durham on our economic development initiatives, “said Dave Barton, Mayor of Uxbridge. 

“Investing in local jobs and economic development in rural communities like Uxbridge will play a critical role in Ontario’s pandemic recovery,” said Lisa Thompson, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. “As the economy continues to reopen, our targeted funding through the Rural Economic Development program will have a very real impact for rural communities across Ontario.” 

In addition, the Ontario government is committing $5 million in cost-share funding under the next intake of the RED program to help rural communities implement additional economic growth plans to address the economic impacts of COVID-19. The new RED intake will open on August 30. 

Ontario’s Rural Economic Development (RED) program will allow rural communities to better respond to the local economic impacts of the pandemic, by supporting actions that will address barriers to economic development, and better position rural communities for economic growth and job creation. 

Economic growth in rural and Indigenous communities during COVID-19 is part of the government’s plan to get every region of Ontario back on track so they can create jobs, opportunity and prosperity for everyone. 

 

QUICK FACTS 

• Municipalities, not-for-profit entities, Ontario Indigenous communities and organizations, and local services boards are eligible for the Rural Economic Development program. 
• The RED program offers two project streams: 
  • Economic Diversification and Competitiveness: Projects that remove barriers to business and job growth, attract investment, attract or retain a skilled workforce, strengthen sector and regional partnerships and diversify regional economies. 
  • Strategic Economic Infrastructure: Minor capital projects that advance economic development and investment opportunities. 
• The province will contribute up to 50 per cent of eligible project costs to a maximum of $150,000 for the Economic Diversification and Competitiveness Stream, while the province will invest up to 30 per cent of eligible project costs to a maximum of $250,000, for the Strategic Economic Infrastructure Stream. 
• The RED program supports projects with tangible benefits to rural and Indigenous communities that help to attract business, investment, and create jobs, while also providing greater value for taxpayer dollars. 

 

Rural Economic Development program 

COVID-19 in Ontario