Saskatchewan municipalities continue moving forward on approved projects under the Municipal Economic Enhancement Program (MEEP) 2020, which made $150 million in provincial funds available to support economic recovery across Saskatchewan.
"A total of 760 municipalities in Saskatchewan have received funds through MEEP," Government Relations Minister Don McMorris said. "This $150 million program has gone a long way in helping our communities recover from the economic impact of COVID-19, and will result in many long-term benefits for Saskatchewan families."
One successful project saw the Town of Mossbank and the rural municipalities of Lake Johnston and Sutton in southern Saskatchewan work together on the construction of a new fire hall, which was completed last fall, to service the region.
"Community resilience, safety, and the wellbeing of our ratepayers are big priorities," Lake Johnston Reeve Sacha Martens said. "As is efficient use of funds. We have a long-standing practice of collaboration where it allows, and this new fire hall in particular is both a practical, much required protective service and a big boon to our region."
Altogether, the fire hall project received over $110,000 in provincial funds.
"This MEEP funding has allowed us to continue prioritizing community resilience and safety for our region," Sutton Reeve Arthur Weiss said. "We are proud of our new space that will help our volunteer firefighters carry out their important service to our communities."
"Our volunteer firefighters had outgrown their old space," Mossbank Mayor Bryan Howe said. "They are a great group of volunteers and this new hall will go a long way in protecting their equipment in the long-term."
As part of another approved project, the Village of Hawarden in central Saskatchewan received over $7,000 to erect an internet access tower that will provide residents with a stable internet connection. Work on erecting the tower continues, and the village plans to begin testing in early May.
"The ability to provide the residents of our community and the surrounding area with stable, reliable and fast internet options is a critical requirement in our current times," Hawarden Mayor Kevin Perry said. "Having to struggle with sub-modern speeds, as well as outage and reliability issues, has left our community, businesses and residents at a serious disadvantage. This project will enhance our businesses' ability to operate effectively and our residents' quality of life by allowing them to fulfill their online needs much more effectively."
The $150 million MEEP program was announced in May 2020 and is a key component of the Government of Saskatchewan's $7.5 billion, two-year capital plan to build a strong province and stimulate its economic recovery from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
To learn more about MEEP 2020 or to see a complete list of approved community projects, visit www.saskatchewan.ca/municipal-economic-enhancement
