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County refocusing efforts toward delayed projects to create construction jobs

A report shows the county will work on getting seniors' housing project to shovel-ready status to reboot economy
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COUNTY OF WELLINGTON – A report shows the County of Wellington is working on getting projects that were put on hold to shovel-ready status to create jobs and help with economic recovery.

A report by county CAO Scott Wilson said staff efforts were redirected to responding to the demands placed on operations rather than pursue new construction projects. These can now proceed because the county has a better understanding how to deal with COVID-19. 

“We have put in place health and safety measures that will enable us to proceed with ‘other than day-to-day’ projects, such as the Continuum of Care,” Wilson’s report says. 

By email, Wilson explained the Continuum of Care is a plan from the county to provide a range of seniors’ housing near or connected to the Wellington Terrace. The plan is to offer market-rate semi-detached houses and apartments, affordable apartments and assisted living. 

Wilson said getting projects like this to shovel-ready status, which is the stage where workers can be employed and construction can begin, means rebooting the economy with construction jobs.

Wilson’s report also said having projects that can be quickly started increases the chance of getting government grants. 

“The county should be in an excellent position to take advantage of (expected) recovery focused infrastructure programs offered by the provincial and/or federal governments,” the report says. “Shovel-ready has become a prerequisite for funding approvals in the last 10 years and it is likely to remain the case as both senior levels of government look to restart and boost the economy.”

Next steps in the project include discussions with the architect to finalize costs and options to make the project financially viable. It is expected the Information, Heritage and Seniors Committee will present a report to council this October.