The City of Belleville was pleased to host a special appreciation event at City Hall yesterday to recognize the outstanding impact that the Municipal Contribution Agreement with Ontario Lottery and Gaming (OLG) has had in our community over the past year.
OLG payments are made under an equitable formula under the Municipal Contribution Agreement that determines the funds that municipalities receive for hosting a gaming facility, and are based on a graduated scale of gaming revenue that is consistent across all sites in Ontario. Then Belleville City Council carefully allocates these funds to select projects each year. In Fiscal 2023 (April 1, 2022 – March 31, 2023) alone, the City of Belleville received a total of $3,462,716 through the agreement.
With this funding, Council and staff were able to make a number of infrastructure investments that otherwise, may not have been attainable. This includes projects such as the Sidney and College Street Intersection Widening Project, McWilliams Bridge replacement design, College Street East sidewalk construction and Mary-Ann Sills Field #2 turf replacement.
A significant portion of the funding also goes to the City’s grant program each year to support various community organizations. The 2023 funds supported over 20 organizations and initiatives including the Eastminster United Church Open Door Café, the Alzheimer Society of Hastings-Prince Edward, the Community Development Council of Quinte, Continuing on in Education, Youth Habilitation Quinte Inc., Gleaners Food Bank, the Belleville Lions’ Club and more.
During yesterday’s event, Rick Hammond, volunteer cook for Bridge Street United Church, spoke to the impact the funding from OLG had on their organization and their popular meal program – a program that provides residents with free daily lunches and frozen taken-away meals.
“We are very fortunate and grateful to have a community partner like OLG in Belleville,” said Mayor Neil Ellis. “Over the years, they have provided our city with endless economic development, tourism and growth opportunities through their establishment and the Municipal Funding Agreement. I am thrilled that the 2023 funds have been able to support so many important organizations in our community and I look forward to what the year ahead will bring for our city.”
“OLG is proud to be a vital part of the City of Belleville, said Kathleen Devine, OLG’s Senior Municipal Relations Manager. “Each and every year, 100 percent of OLG profits are reinvested in Ontario to support provincial priorities. From critical infrastructure to important local programs, to community festivals, OLG’s profits are hard at work in Belleville and all across our province to build stronger communities. When you play at an Ontario casino, like Shorelines Casino Belleville, you play for Ontario.”
Source: https://www.belleville.ca/en/news/partnership-with-olg-continues-to-strengthen-community.aspx