The city of Chatham-Kent in southwestern Ontario is entering an agreement with the federal government to receive over $16 million in disaster prevention funding.
Mayor Darrin Canniff and the city clerk have to sign the agreement in order to claim about $16.6 million from the federal Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund (DMAF) grant program. The grant is a cost-share program that covers only 60% of the total cost of projects meant to increase the disaster resilience of a municipality, leaving the remaining 40% to be shouldered by the city.
A minimum of $25 million worth of infrastructure projects is required to qualify for the DMAF grant.
BlackBurnNews.com reported that the Chatham-Kent staff’s recommendation for the agreement to be signed went up earlier this week for council approval.
In July 2018, Chatham-Kent applied for $16.6 million in funding. In March that same year, the city was approved for the full amount of funding – so long as all the conditions of the grant were met and an agreement with the federal government was executed.
The projects to be funded involve reinforcing shorelines on the Thames River, Sydenham River and McGregor Creek. The Sixth Street Dam will also be replaced to better handle potential flooding and ice jams. In addition, the funds will also be used to ensure that local essential services have the increased capacity needed to handle severe weather events.
