Saugeen Shores will now have to explore new options to finance the Lamont Sports Park and a potential YMCA recreation facility, after applications for federal/provincial grant dollars were turned down.
The Town says in a news release it was informed it was not successful in grant applications to the Investing In Canadian Infrastructure Program. It had submitted applications for both the Lamont Sports Park and the YMCA recreation facility.
“Saugeen Shores is a growing community and will take this outcome in stride,” says Saugeen Shores Mayor Luke Charbonneau in a statement. “Our efforts towards making the YMCA and Lamont Sports Park a reality will continue as we explore other financial tools to support these projects.”
According to the town’s release, ICIP officials indicated the intake for the Community, Culture and Recreation funding stream was highly competitive. Demand for the grants apparently reached upwards of $10-billion, while only $1-billion in funding was available.
The Town says it’s been building its Legacy Fund since 2018 to expand the community’s financial capacity in responsibly self-funding projects such as these.
In June, Saugeen Shores councillors were presented a conceptual plan for the Lamont Sports Park. It includes ball diamonds, sports fields, washrooms, parking and trails.
The entire project will cost about $12 million over the next ten years. In 2019, the Lamont Sports Park Project in Port Elgin was the winner of Kraft Heinz Project Play — netting the town $250,000 towards the cost.
Saugeen Shores council also approved a business plan last year for a proposed Saugeen Shores YMCA. The Plex was selected as the preferred site for the recreation facility.
