Written By David Gomez, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
MIDDLESEX COUNTY – During its May 13 meeting, Middlesex County Council approved a $687,500 loan to support the Glencoe Business and Industrial Park Servicing Project in Southwest Middlesex. The application, submitted through the County Loan Program, will assist in funding critical infrastructure upgrades to 44.6 acres of municipally owned industrial land located along Industrial Road.
Josh White, Procurement Services Manager for Middlesex County, presented the report to Council. He explained that the initial application was received on January 27 and subsequently revised to meet the County Loan Program’s criteria. “County staff worked together with the municipal staff, and adjusted the application to better align with the county loan program requirements, with the revised version being received on April 25,” White said.
The infrastructure project includes the installation of water, sanitary and storm sewer systems, as well as a communal stormwater management facility. Once complete, the work is expected to make the land shovel-ready for sale and development, contributing to long-term economic growth in the region. “When completed, [it] will lead to the sale and utilization of the affected land, subsequently increasing the County’s industrial property assessment base,” White noted.
The total estimated cost of the project is $2.75 million, with the loan covering 50 per cent of the municipal portion. The term of the loan is set for 15 years, and construction is expected to begin in the summer of 2025.
Councillor Sue Clarke, Mayor of Adelaide Metcalfe, expressed her strong support for the initiative. “I think we need to see more of this throughout Middlesex County, and I think this is great for Southwest Middlesex,” she said. “It’s also going to help the County in our overall assessment in the long term.”
Councillor Allan Mayhew, Mayor of Southwest Middlesex, emphasized the economic potential of the development. “This will be a project that is destined to turn into a $200 million investment in Southwest Middlesex,” he said, adding that Industrial Road serves as the entrance to Ontario Plants and runs alongside the land slated for development. “There have been agreements of purchase, of sale on those lands that have been accepted,” he confirmed, noting that additional expressions of interest are actively being reviewed.
Mayhew also addressed the municipality’s financial position. “We are in a good debt service ratio… servicing this County loan is no problem at all,” he said. He added that the municipality is actively pursuing further grants to support the project.
With no further discussion, Council voted unanimously in favour of the recommendation, moving the project one step closer to breaking ground.
