Federal Minister Gudie Hutchings, responsible for rural economic development and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), has been actively touring the South Shore, announcing over $2 million in funding for several community projects.
One of the major beneficiaries is the town of Mahone Bay, which will receive $248,646 to improve its waterfront and downtown areas. The project focuses on making these spaces more accessible, particularly for individuals with mobility challenges.
The enhancements will include upgrades to the town’s bandstand and public restrooms, as well as the creation of a pedestrian pathway linking Edgewater Street to Main Street. Additionally, these improvements will help safeguard the waterfront from potential flooding and the impacts of severe weather.
In Lunenburg, the Lunenburg Folk Harbour Society has been allocated $165,735 to renovate the historic Lunenburg Opera House. Acquired by the society in 2019, this early 20th-century building is overdue for significant updates to improve its accessibility.
The Lunenburg Yacht Club will receive $45,000 through the Innovative Communities Fund to prepare for the 2024 Mobility Cup, a sailing competition designed for participants with disabilities. The funding will support necessary accessibility upgrades at the club, volunteer training, and event promotion.
On the business front, Terra Beata Farms, located on Heckmans Island in Lunenburg County, is set to benefit from a $500,000 investment. This funding will enable the farm to expand its processing capacity for cranberries, rhubarb, and haskaps, boosting its production capabilities.
South Shore Opportunities Inc. has been granted $1,227,835 to offer business counselling services in Lunenburg and Queens counties over the next five years.
While visiting our studios in Bridgewater for an interview Minister Hutchings explained that part of the reason the South Shore has gotten so much support lately is that it has all the necessary requirements for growth.
“We are seeing more and more people move here, we’ve got the natural assets, we also have manufacturing assets like Michelin which I just visited, and most importantly we have great people who want to see growth,” said Hutchings. “In the last three years just in this Southern part of Nova Scotia ACOA has done 250 projects and invested $45 million,”
You can listen to the full interview with Minister Hutchings below.
Five South Shore Projects Receiving ACOA Support
- Mahone Bay Waterfront and Downtown Upgrades
- Cost: $248,646
- Purpose: Improve accessibility with upgrades to the bandstand, public restrooms, and create a pedestrian path connecting Edgewater Street to Main Street. Enhancements also aim to protect the waterfront from flooding and severe weather.
- Lunenburg Folk Harbour Society – Lunenburg Opera House Renovation Planning
- Cost: $165,735
- Purpose: Conduct design and cost assessments for renovations to improve accessibility, including ramps, elevators, automatic doors, and accessible washrooms.
- Lunenburg Yacht Club – 2024 Mobility Cup Preparations
- Cost: $45,000
- Purpose: Fund accessibility upgrades, volunteer training, and event promotion for the 2024 Mobility Cup, a sailing regatta for participants with disabilities.
- Terra Beata Farms – Processing Equipment Expansion
- Cost: $500,000
- Purpose: Expand processing capabilities for cranberries, rhubarb, and haskaps at the farm on Heckmans Island.
- South Shore Opportunities Inc. – Business Counseling Services
- Cost: $1,227,835
- Purpose: Provide business counseling in Lunenburg and Queens counties over a five-year period to support local economic development.
