As Wheatley continues to recover after last August’s downtown explosion, the municipality has secured an additional $3.9 million from the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade to help support the community.
That brings the total amount of emergency funding to $5.9 million, municipal leaders reported in a release issued on Monday. The new money will help businesses, non-profits and commercial landlords affected by the blast.
Mike and Erika Renwick, downtown Wheatley business owners and co-chairs of its business improvement area, said they were pleased to see the additional funding.
“We appreciate the ongoing efforts of the municipality’s economic development department in their communications surrounding the funding from the province,” they stated in the release.
“Our hope is that these additional funds will help to alleviate some of the continued financial hardships these businesses have endured, and we look forward to the continued support of the province in regard to this.”
A total of $1.97 million has been distributed to date among 30 businesses, four not-for-profit organizations and 19 commercial properties over the past several months.
“We’d like to thank the businesses of Wheatley for their patience, understanding, and tenacity during this difficult process. We’d also like to thank Premier (Doug) Ford and his team for their diligent efforts to get these funds released into our community,” Mayor Darrin Canniff said.
“This process has shown what can be accomplished when a fluid collaborative relationship is established between municipal and provincial government.”
The additional money is being distributed in three phases to help the affected businesses with revenue losses up to August of this year, with the first payments taking place immediately to approved applicants.
Economic development officials have been co-ordinating the fund disbursement to the businesses and will continue to provide up-to-date information and support.
“Our municipality has been focusing on doing everything we can to help the affected businesses of Wheatley,” said Stuart McFadden, economic development director.
“We’re thankful that the Province of Ontario has been at the table working with us from Day 1, and hopefully this additional $3.9 million will help the businesses during the time it takes to open their doors again.”
Gas was first identified at the Erie Street North site in June of last year, which prompted the immediate evacuation of homes and businesses in the area.
The following month, three-dozen homes and businesses were evacuated after hydrogen sulphide was again detected at the downtown site.
On Aug. 26, toxic gas detectors raised the alarm that afternoon, providing municipal staff and emergency crews enough time to clear the area before a blast destroyed two buildings about 90 minutes later. Twenty people suffered minor injuries from the explosion.
Last month, the size of the downtown evacuation zone was reduced, allowing some residents to return to their homes and businesses.