Huron Expositor, 2009-02-11, Page 9.0..2- s
. • t - • . •
•
*--
-;-
Thp Huron Expositor • February 11, 2009 Page 9
ew
Province to fund five projects with $125,000
Much of $777,000 request seen as 'outside mandate' of provincial ministry
Susan Ilundertmark
4111111111M111. -
A $777,000 Communities in Tran-
sition funding request from the
province that was expected to cre-
ate 600 jobs in County has
resulted in a grant of $125,000 to-
wards only five of the 22 economic
initiatives proposed.
"The Ministry of Eco-
nomic Development
said they won't con-
sider some of the oth-
ers because they said
the projects fell out-
side their mandate,"
says Mike Pullen, Hu-
ron County's economic
development officer.
"It's not exactly what
we were looking for
but there will be ben-
efits," he said.
Goderich building to other possible
manufacturers while the Goderich
harbour expansion would create
more potential for trade and export
through Huron County.
"We get calls from London and
Kitchener asking about the capac-
ity of the Goderich harbour to ship
manufacturing products
worldwide," said Pul-
len.
He said Ministry
�f Economic Devel-
opment officials re-
ally liked the idea of
a training centre/busi-
ness and manufactur-
ing incubation centre
at the former Centra-
lia_Qollege site. •
"Mere, WO3 wouldlook
into the opportunity to T.g.
• setup training for the
He said Huron trades and provide ad -
County was told: to ditional space for small
pursue • funding from the • scale businesses," said
Mipistry of Agriculture and Food Pullen.. "It's a -longer term thing but
for proposed projects like the Brus- it's clearly something that's needed
sels beef plant and a farm to table to help. the whole county"
incubator program.14,,,moi*.4,4,,-4,04 The project to develop an airport
Aswell, he said they were told to • near Wingham that is currently
ask the Ministry of Health for fund- •used mostly. by Wescast Industries
ing for the Gateway Rural Health ..*Tisis also approved Since it was seen.
Research -Institute in Seaforth and as a way to benefit - all of Huron
the Ministry of Culture for a pro- County
posal to expand the region's .cultur- The county -wide marketing proj-
al sector with a Huron County cul- ect focuses .Ort.u8ing the Internet to
tural plan, .a performing arts plan promote Huron County with. sev-
and a training centre for the arts eral websites including - investin.;.•
program. . Huron.a, an Ontario's West Coast
_ Approved projects are what 'Pul- website and.a Huron manuffictur-
len called °traditional economic de- ing website.
velopment" such as infrastructure "This funding will al.low. us to
and .facilitieSmove much quicker on core Amite-
. They include a property assess- gies we already have in- place," he
ment of the Volvo plant. in Goder- said. ,
ich, a Centralia manufacturing in- While Pullen 6ays:?the projects
cubator feasibility plan, a Goderich that received Ministry of Economic
Harbour expansion plan,• a Richard Development approval won't create
Levan airport plan near Wingham any jobs in the short-term in Huron
and. a county -wide marketing plan. County, he's hoping they'll bring in-
, Pullen said the study of the Volvo vestois- tci the community.
facilities Will help to market the "Some •of the projects not consid-
'It's not exactly
what we were
looking for but
there will be
benefits,' --
Huron County
• economic
development officer
IMPORTANT PUBLIC NOTIC
Please note the following Important information regarding the
Department of the Seaforth Community Hospital.
ered were the ones that had the
jobs attached. But, the big thing
is to market Huron County, to re-
ally'promote it," he said, adding
that the provincial representatives
said they 'didn't want to fund_ any
projects that were too "community -
specific"_ or tied to any one munici-
pality
"They like to see a more -regional
approach," he said.
He said the proposal for economic
development plans in South Huron,
North Huron and Vanastra was
broadened to -include all of Huron
County in an economic blue -print,
examining the strengths and weak-
nesses of every municipality and.
looking at ways to work better to-
gether.
"A lot of this work has been done
already and would pull existing
strategies together," he said.
Pullen said he's also hoping that
economic development funding
promised in the recent federal bud-
get will help to fund some of 'the
projects that didift receive the pro-
vinciaI Comniimitifis in Transition
funding.
"We're keeping a close eye on -
how the federal
budget money
Adis out and
we hope it will
pick up some of
the other proj-
ects that would
have brought
more • imm.edi-
ate benefits,"
he said, adding
he's hoping -that
some of the fed-
eral funding will
come through
the Huron,
Business Devel-
opment Corpo-
ration which is
well positioned
to determine
where the mon-
ey's most needed.
"We're sitting here ready to go - we
just need additional funds," he said
of the remaining 17 projects that
did not receive provincial funding.
Pullen said it will take several
weeks to :finish the paperwork 'be-
fore the funding arrives.
•
• Cif*
It's hard to wri
heat around:
first-time
Ft-onilPage 4
actual ages, thanks to healthy living
and medical advances. Maybe this ,
situation will be happening more
not less in the future.
But, while men have always been -;
able to bekome new dads into their •
70s, it's still hard to wrap your head
around a new fix44im„2/4,- e mom at a e:
60. '4
' ..t
•
Announcement
John Clerninson,
'Regional Director,
Jim Radcliffe, Director, Business
Deyeloprnent, are pleased to
announce that Phyllis Chisholm,
Financial Security Advisor, has
joined Freedom 55 Financial in
Kitchener -VVaterloo:'9t,
Phyllis brings our team 26 years -of financial
services experience. She has worked in the
Seaforth area since 1999 in various financial
services roles.
Phyllis is a resident of Egmondville where she
$: lives with her husband Ross and four children, .,.
'1', She looks forward to building a successful, ,....;;*
f ....,
practice in the Seaforth area.
•...t: C
414t%frFreedom 55 Financial is a unique financial
,--",--,.:',.4:104.,,‘,,.:0.-*;-..._.,_44-F.4A„.- t-,2....... ii. •;, .
security advice and planning organization,
backed by the strength of London Life, a leader
in helping Canadians meet their financial security
needs for more than 130 years.
,-....... ' :1:.fs.,,
,,:.,-..t:.-.,:: ‘,.
.
.,_ „
...„
-.-...-.-A.v,
. _,-. ...
,..4..,:,
.A....
.A,,,. -.,:t,
Between the hours 01 8:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m.paVeflte Will be able to access Emergency Servlces
at one of the other area hospitals providing 24-hour EnergenCy Department coverage.
If at:Irl,PPru, have a medical emergency, please call 9-140viw.p.tAtiw,timmtoto;titt:;tty
Financial Security Advisor
519-522-0055 "*P.-',';.40trib.•`-
ibIttYp?:„IY4ticttettIllitrtesiaVOr:Loneetcnnuw.trt.,ttttt.t•
•
dp.