BRINSTON, Ontario – 2022 marks one of the most successful years for the SDG Regional Incentives Program, with $320,000 being invested in local businesses and tourism amenities.
This year’s success was marked at a ribbon-cutting for Whitteker Storage Inc. which completed a $408,000 renovation at its Brinston (South Dundas) location this year. Whitteker Storage accessed $12,500 in RIP funding to help with the project that saw space for four new businesses created, including the 26-unit storage facility.
The United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry annually invests $250,000 in RIP. This year SDG Counties invested an additional $70,000 in the project. The additional investment was created due to unspent funds from previous unfinished RIP projects.
Tara Kirkpatrick, SDG Counties Manager of Economic Development, said RIP has become a staple of local business improvement projects, in communities both large and small.
“This was our first project in Brinston, and we’re seeing more and more businesses in these smaller communities accessing funding to help with their projects,” said Kirkpatrick. “This tells us that the local economy is growing in communities in SDG, regardless of their population numbers. We’re expecting more of the same in 2024.”
Whitteker Storage owner Curtis Whitteker said the addition of RIP funding was integral to his renovation project.
“The Regional Incentives Program is designed for projects just like mine,” said Whitteker, who’s family has owned the property at Whitteker Storage for more than 60 years. His great grandfather Pringle Murphy purchased the property in the 1960s and operated an agriculture sales and service dealership. “I’m the fourth generation of our family to operate a business at this location, and we’re looking forward to great success serving the residents of South Dundas and SDG.”
SDG Counties Warden Carma Williams said RIP incentives and local entrepreneurs are a match made in heaven.
“This is a win-win for all of us,” said Williams. “Local businesses receive much-needed funding for new projects or renovations, the community benefits because of this new investment and municipalities can reap the rewards of augmented assessment in the years to come.”
The primary goals of the Regional Incentives Program are to:
- Stimulate investment in tourism and in the agricultural sector by funding diverse, on-farm expansions and agri-tourism.
- Encourage redevelopment and private sector investment in existing building stock within the County to support employment, reduce the number of vacant commercial, institutional and industrial buildings, and increase the assessment base.
- Increase the amount of permanent roofed accommodations within the County to specifically accommodate for an increase in tourism establishments that cater to short-term accommodations.
The next intake for RIP will take place in the winter of 2023, once the SDG Counties’ budget is set. For more information on RIP, visit sdgcounties.ca/regional-incentives-programs.