Timmins is receiving a big boost from the province.
The city is getting $905,873 from the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund (OCIF). The funding is to help municipalities build and repair critical infrastructure —including roads, bridges, water and wastewater infrastructure.
"In 2020, the City will direct the OCIF towards its core infrastructure projects, namely, lining projects as well as a significant construction project on the next phase of the Connecting Link," wrote Timmins CAO Dave Landers in an email.
"As a City we are pleased with the early announcement of these funds and those dollars will play a critical role in addressing some of our critical infrastructure needs."
This is the largest injection of cash the city has received from OCIF recently. In 2015 and 2016, Timmins received $195,434, with the total increasing in the following years. In 2019, Timmins' portion was $869,307. Landers said last year's funding financed the water infrastructure lining project on Gatineau Boulevard.
This year's funding allotments were announced in a news release from Premier Doug Ford and Minister of Infrastructure Laurie Scott. The total investment is $200 million for 424 small, rural and northern communities.
"Ontario's economy is thriving, but we must ensure every person and every region across the province can share in this prosperity," Premier Doug Ford said in the release. "Investing in infrastructure is critical to helping rural communities attract, support and sustain economic growth and job creation."
According to the province, the funding is distributed using a fair and transparent formula.
"OCIF is an excellent example of the stable, predictable infrastructure funding small and rural communities need to help sustain and develop local communities and economies. OCIF's formula-based funding helps build and maintain Ontario's network of local roads and bridges and critical water, wastewater and stormwater systems," said AMO President Jamie McGarvey in the statement. "The announcement of 2020 OCIF allocations is timely and much appreciated."
