Invest Well provides $60,000 to businesses in 2020

WELLINGTON COUNTY – The Invest Well Community Improvement Program provided $60,000 in grant funding for 10 projects across the county in 2020.

A report from economic development director Crystal Ellis notes the 10 projects have a combined estimated value of $1.8 million and generated grants from the county’s member municipalities totalling $92,500.

“The Community Improvement Program (CIP) works alongside the member municipality CIPs to provide funding aimed at revitalizing, beautifying, and attracting investment in Wellington County,” Ellis states in the report received by Wellington County council on Jan. 25.

In December, one Invest Well application was received and approved from Guelph-Eramosa Township for $7,500 under the InvestMORE grant stream. The project involves the renovations of a downtown business and additional apartments.

The report also notes two approved CIP projects were completed at the end of 2020.

The new Drayton Pharmacy in Mapleton received $7,500 from the InvestMore grant steam for interior and exterior renovation of an existing downtown building to accommodate the new businesses.

The second completed CIP project at 44 Arthur Street in Harriston was provided a $5,000 InvestMORE grant for building and façade improvements.

“It’s great to see businesses continue to make improvements, especially through the pandemic,” said councillor George Bridge, who chairs the economic development committee.

“Some of that CIP grant money was also for things like patios and stuff like that to help our restaurant industry, so it was really well received."