CALEB NICKERSON
PONTIAC July 1, 2020
Two weeks ago, the top municipal and provincial officials in the Outaouais met in Wakefield for the public announcement of regional funding through . . .
the support for regional outreach (FARR) program. The announcement was made by the CAQ government’s minister for the Outaouais, Mathieu Lacombe and attended by Pontiac Warden Jane Toller and her counterparts from the other MRCs in the region.
In an interview on June 26, Toller explained that the wardens had decided to make a tweak to the funding formula for the 2019 submissions, and praised the work done by MRC staff on their applications, as three MRC projects were approved.
“Last year, one change was we took the total amount of money and we decided to split it in half,” she said. “Fifty per cent was offered for MRC projects, and this is a good thing because this was the first time that we’ve done so well in the Pontiac … Danielle Newman, our economic development coordinator at the time, put a lot of work into it and made those three submissions … The other 50 per cent is going to be available for outside of the MRC, so for example … the not-for-profit groups.”
“The reason we decided is, we felt as wardens that sometimes, the money goes on many little projects, but you don’t notice a significant difference, and how can we really make sure that our regions can tackle some big projects?” she continued. “So having the ability to access some of the FARR money was considered a good idea.”
Four of the newly announced funding recipients are situated in MRC Pontiac, and Toller added that much of the money will be doled out over the course of the next three years.
Piscine Pontiac Pool
The Piscine Pontiac pool project was approved for $160,000 to complete architectural plans for their proposed multi-use facility, as well as to estimate costs for the initial construction. Toller, who is a member of the citizen committee advocating for the pool, noted that the funding would only be allocated on the condition that the group was approved for another, larger grant application.
“They can’t spend any of it until they find out if they receive the funding from the Sport Loisir, which was, they’ve asked for 7.6 million,” she said. “The money just has to remain unspent until they find out if they’re going to get the full funding.”
Natural sites
The MRC was approved for $49,600 to improve natural spaces and trails throughout the region. Toller pointed to the Oiseau Rock Trail in Sheenboro as an example of one of the areas that would be spruced up.
Investor attraction
In order to bring in new businesses to the region, especially industrial ones, $128,000 was allocated to the MRC for investor attraction. The money will go towards the hiring of an agent for the territory, who will work with the business community to develop the region’s economy.
Regional marketing
The MRC has received $152,000 to go towards creating a brand and marketing strategy for the region.
“It’s actually started, [Economic Development Director] Cyndy [Phillips] has jumped right in,” Toller said. “For the territorial marketing, they have already found a really exciting company that has a great record of success, and they are going to help the Pontiac with its branding and its ability to attract people.”
