South Grenville Municipalities Make Joint $38 Million Infrastructure Funding Application

Prescott — The Town of Prescott and the townships of Augusta and Edwardsburgh-Cardinal announced on Monday that they are making a joint application to the Ontario government’s Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund (HEWSF).

In a news release sent out Monday morning, they said that all three municipalities are hoping to use the funding to expand their water and wastewater services for all three communities.

“The expansion will free up capacity to add up to 1,550 new homes in Prescott and Augusta and will improve water and wastewater services for residents in Edwardsburgh Cardinal.” said the release.

“The Town of Prescott is pleased to partner with our neighbours in Augusta and Edwardsburgh Cardinal to improve water and wastewater services across our municipalities. This funding is critical to building much-needed housing, as identified in our joint land development study,” said Town of Prescott Mayor Gauri Shankar. “I am proud of the ongoing spirit of collaboration amongst our communities to support growth across South Grenville.”

“With the shortage of affordable housing and rentals in our three municipalities, this funding is critical to meet our needs now and into the future. Our communities are appealing to live in and close to trade corridors. We cannot build more housing and support growth without water and wastewater infrastructure in place. This is a giant step for the Township of Augusta as well as our partnering municipalities.” said Jeff Shaver, Mayor of Augusta Township

“This is a fantastic example of how collaboration can benefit all residents of our greater area. For Edwardsburgh-Cardinal residents, it means the ability to secure additional system capacity helping to further economic development in our township. We are excited for the opportunities that may come.” commented Mayor Tory Deschamps, Township of Edwardsburgh Cardinal

The Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund provides 73 percent funding for eligible shovel-ready water and wastewater expansion projects that support future growth and housing development across Ontario.

The joint project has two main components:

• $17.4 million to expand capacity at Prescott’s wastewater treatment plant, and pumping stations and forced main to accommodate housing and economic growth in all three communities.
• $20.5 million to expand water and sewer services along County Road 2 into Augusta.

The release continues, “If successful, the three communities will receive just over $27.7 million in funding. The remaining $10.2 million will be funded municipally and through other revenue sources created by growth.”

The announcement on what projects the government will fund will be released this summer with project start dates to begin in September of this year.

The three municipalities also stated, “To be shovel ready, preliminary environmental assessments and design work is underway.”

Quick facts:

• The Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund is a three-year, $825-million provincial investment to help municipalities repair, rehabilitate, and expand critical drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure.
• HEWSF is a joint funding program where the Province funds up to 73 percent of eligible projects costs up to $35 million, and municipalities are required to fund the remaining 27 percent, either through revenue sources created by growth or by stacking eligible funding programs.
• The program seeks to fund projects that will unlock more housing opportunities, support the province’s growing population, protect communities by providing access to municipal water and wastewater services, and enhance economic growth.
• Projects must be shovel-ready, with a project start date of no later than September 30, 2024, and a project completion date of March 31, 2027.
• Prior to pursuing funding, Augusta and Prescott undertook a joint study to identify where and how much land was needed for potential residential, commercial, and industrial development. It also determined the water and wastewater capacity needed to support this development.