The Citizen, 2010-01-21, Page 16PAGE 16. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2010.
With the county having decided
earlier this month to look into
government funding to build
affordable housing, one councillor
has suggested another option for the
location.
County council had discussed a
possible site on county-owned
property south of Clinton.
However, at the committee of the
whole day one meeting on Jan. 13,
Huron East councillor Bernie
MacLellan asked council to consider
a site in Vanastra. He mentioned a
building that had been renovated
there for apartments already adding
that they were full. A similar
building is available, which
MacLellan said he believed Huron
East would be willing to donate to
such a project.
“What the province is willing to
put in should easily cover the
renovation there. It’s something I
think the county should look at.”
Councillor Ben Van Diepenbeek
of Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh
wondered if the grant was contingent
on new builds. MacLellan said that
grants in the past have been for
renovations.
Ken Oke, councillor for South
Huron said that when they learned
there was money that might be
available from the province, he made
the statement that any place in
Huron County would be fine, but the
municipality should provide the
land. “We went to the Clinton area
because we had the land.”
MacLellan explained the reason
for the delay in suggesting the
Vanastra site was that Huron East
only took possession of this property
in the last couple of months, a result
of a tax sale.
Warden Bert Dykstra of Central
Huron reminded, however, that
county council had approved a
motion to proceed with the site at
Clinton. He suggested this latest
option be sent to social services for
more discussion.
Huron East councillor Joe Seili
pointed out that the other apartment
in Vanastra shows that this sugges-
tion could work. “The Lions
building beside this one is basically
the same, so it’s not as if it hasn’t
been done.”
And those apartments are full,
MacLellan noted.
Asked the age of the building,
MacLellan said that it is a war-time
structure. “But it’s in impeccable
shape. The floors are cement, the
walls are cement. It’s almost a bomb
shelter.”
A meeting will be held with the
social services administrator to
discuss the potential of the site.
Councillor proposes alternate site for housing unit
HBDC enlists county support in fight for fundsRepresentatives from the HuronBusiness Development Corporationattended county council’s day onecommittee of the whole meeting to
enlist their help.
At issue is the federal government
slashing of funds to an organization
dedicated to supporting and
sustaining business.
“Our aim is to garner support for
continued federal funding to ensure
a recovery from the economic
downturn,” said Pam Stanley, HBDC
past president.
Saying that the corporation’s
mandate is to help entrepreneurs
make good things happen, Stanley
added that the government funding
has been “extremely beneficial” inachieving this. Just this past August, said Stanley,Canada had “called on” HBDC toexpand its programs, in particular toimplement detailed plans for suchthings as community capacity
building.
HBDC last year helped to launch
50 new economic development
projects, said Stanley. They have
averaged that figure over the past
several years.
Now, she said they are at the 83
project numbers stage. “The critical
part is how do we go on with this?”
she pondered, alluding to projects
such as trout farms, artisinal cheese
and wines as plans for Huron
businesses.
A total of $975,368 has been
approved in 51 projects. A total of990 hours has been spent “making ithappen” and volunteers have tallied330 hours. HBDC has helped 54 businessesweather the economic storm, saidStanley, creating 245 jobs.
Stanley noted that HBDC’s
success benefits the federal
government. “So imagine our
disappointment to find out the funds
that allowed this to happen are not
being renewed,” she said.
“In economic turmoil, the Huron
Business Development Corporation
is one of the best assets the
federal government has,” added
Stanley.
“Huron County’s economy is not
out of the woods. Further funds are
required and it only makes sense to
re-instate enhanced stimulusfunding.”Councillor Jim Fergusson ofBluewater asked how thegovernment was expecting HBDC tobe funded now. Paul Nichol, economic
development manager Paul Nichol
said they had been told the operating
fund will continue. “We will get
$300,000 to keep the lights on and
the staff hired. But it seems pointless
to keep the door open without the
funds to supply the tools we
need.”
Noting that HBDC had faced the
same situation a few years before
and had formed a partnership with
the county to ride it out.
“That was an award-winning
unique situation,” Stanley
said. Bill Dowson, councillor of CentralHuron, wondered if this was whatthe federal government was hopingwould happen again. “Are theythinking the county will pick up thecosts here?”
Stanley said she didn’t know the
answer to that. However, she said,
while no one wants downloading,
partnerships are good.
For now, though, it was enough to
have the county express concerns to
MP Ben Lobb; the Honorable Gary
Goodyear, Minister of State
responsible for the Federal
Economic Development Agency for
Southern Ontario; the South West
Economic Alliance and the
Federation of Canadian
Municipalities.
By Bonnie GroppThe Citizen
By Bonnie Gropp
The Citizen
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