Picton, ON – The Government of Ontario announced earlier today that the County of Prince Edward will receive $130,000 through the Rural Economic Development (RED) program to support ongoing work to revitalize downtown centres across the municipality.
This funding will assist with the continued implementation of the goals and action items identified in the downtown revitalization action plans, which were finalized in 2018.
“This funding will help immensely as we seek to improve the economic, physical and social well-being of the town centres,” Mayor Steve Ferguson says. “As we continue on the road to recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, we are excited to work with Business Improvement Area organizations, the local Chamber of Commerce, and other community partners to realize the full potential of our downtown areas in the years to come.”
With the latest RED funding, the municipality will dedicate staff resources to support work aimed at improving the County’s downtown centres in Picton, Bloomfield, Wellington, Consecon and Rossmore. Staff will collaborate with businesses and residents and bring together various stakeholders to advance projects and initiatives aimed at enhancing the business areas.
The work undertaken will be informed by the downtown revitalization action plans, which were shaped and developed through consultation with businesses, residents and organizations in each community. The plans for the five distinct downtown centres as well as a County-wide plan were funded in part by the RED program. The County received funding from the Ontario Main Street Revitalization program in 2019-20 to implement several action items from the plans.
If you have questions or comments regarding downtown revitalization, please contact Emily Cowan, Director, Community Services, Programs and Initiatives, at 613.476.2148 extension or email ecowan@pecounty.on.ca.
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For media inquiries, please contact Mark Kerr, Communications and Consultation Supervisor, at 613.476.2148 ext. 1009 or by email at mkerr@pecounty.on.ca.