New grants in Coe Hill for home or business façade improvement

January 13, 2015

By Jim Eadie

The newly elected Wollaston Township council has approved the first Community Improvement Plan (CIP) façade improvement grant for a resident or business not located on the main street of the hamlet of Coe Hill. Originally, the grants were made available for “main street beautification” as part of the Wollaston revitalization efforts when first made available 2011.

“The intention of the program is to provide an incentive for people to do work on their homes that might not ordinarily get done,” said township clerk Jennifer Cohen. “They could look at a House Care Guide for inspiration or hire a professional to do the improvements for them. Either way, this is an incentive to increase beauty and value in the neighborhood.”

In order to take advantage of a grant, a main street resident can submit a simple application at the township office with a proposal for façade work, which can include such things as new windows, railings, awnings, siding and painting. Once the project is approved, completed, and the work has been checked, the municipality will pay 50 per cent of the cost up to a maximum of $500.

Treasurer Verna Brundage noted that since 2011, a total of 11 grants have been made from the original $10,000 put into the program, and there is still money left in the original grant program pot. This past summer council re-drafted the original bylaw to now allow any resident or business on a municipal street within the hamlet of Coe Hill boundary to access grants as well.

At the Dec. 1 meeting of council, the first grant was approved for Tere Stinchcomb, a resident on Wollaston Lake Rd. who upgraded the façade of her home with new shutters, railings and an awning. Stinchcomb, who has done a substantial amount of home improvement work on her home in the past few years, was very pleased that the municipality could now include her home as she completes some of the finishing touches.

“A lot of people drive up and down past our homes on the Wollaston Lake Road too,” she said. “Anyone who drives through our little town, and it catches their eye, will turn around and check the other streets too. I encourage everyone to take advantage of this grant.”

Further information about this grant program, and assistance in accessing the funding can be obtained by calling the Wollaston Township office at 1-613-337-5731.