At the MRC Pontiac council of mayors public meeting on October 18, a resolution was passed approving the recipients of the FRR stream 4 (Fonds régions et ruralité), a large funding envelope provided through the provincial Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MAMH). The fund was for projects that promote "economic vitalization" in the region. There were 35 submissions total and of those, 18 projects were selected for funding.
Speaking after the meeting, MRC Pontiac Warden Jane Toller spoke about some of the projects, highlighting the largest recipient, an MRC initiative to create an industrial kitchen for processing and packaging produce from local farms.
In a statement issued on Monday, MRC Pontiac provided a breakdown of the funding:
MRC Pontiac
Agri Saveurs: $450,000 for a shared industrial kitchen to process and package agricultural products from Pontiac farmers
Municipalities
Alleyn-et-Cawood: $100,000 for upgrades to Parc du Mont O'Brien, including "trail and campground signage, wildlife-proof waste management equipment and environmentally friendly outhouses".
Clarendon: $93,230.37 to convert a vacant lot into "recreational green space" (phase 1).
Fort-Coulonge: $100,000 for their "Escale la Riviere" project, which involves developing municipal land that became vacant following the 2019 floods.
Ile-du-Grand-Calumet: $70,960.10 for phase 2 of their "Faire revivre notre Île project", creating a "multifunctional gathering place for the community".
Litchfield: $100,000 for upgrades to tourist infrastructure, including signage, accessible bathrooms and garbage containers.
Otter Lake: $100,000 to integrate electric vehicle charging stations into Hydro-Québec's Circuit électrique.
Portage-du-Fort: $100,000 to create a "multifunctional community center by transforming a building making it available to community organizations for activities".
Rapides-des-Joachims: $38,676.11 for installation of new docks.
Shawville: $88,902 for feasibility study on the future of the arena.
Thorne: $87,345 for "major" renovation of community center.
Non-profit organizations
Autonhomme Pontiac: $100,000 to "renovate and furnish apartments for fathers with children".
Bouffe Pontiac: $20,734 to remove carpet and install commercial tile flooring.
Anglican Parish of West Quebec: $64,079.10 for purchase and installation of commercial kitchen equipment, electrical and flooring upgrades, wheelchair accessible doors.
Private businesses
Brauwerk Hoffman: $58,115.95 to build a greenhouse that will supply produce and also serve as an event venue, as well as the installation of a new sound system.
Century 21 Élite: $40,937.50 to convert the former Caisse Desjardins office in Fort-Coulonge into a "business center" with shared working space.
Hotel Pontiac: $60,750 to insulate water supply pipes, bar and kitchen.
Fromagerie La Drave: $100,000 to acquire production equipment for a cheese factory.
Total: $1,782,000