Ont. infrastructure fund increases

Woolwich is expecting a large jump in provincial infrastructure grants over the next three years.

Having received $137,000 in 2015 and 2016, the township will see $287,000 from the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund (OCIF) in 2017, with that number growing to $408,000 the following year and $636,000 in 2019.

Meeting this week, councillors quickly endorsed entering into a new contribution agreement with the province in order to secure the funding.

In 2015, the OCIF money helped with the rehabilitation of Floradale Road Bridge, while this year it was applied to the recently completed resurfacing of New Jerusalem Road.

OCIF was introduced by the Ontario government to provide stable funding to help small communities address core infrastructure needs in relation to roads, bridges, water and wastewater, providing steady funding for such projects.