Significant investment by the Regional Outreach Fund

Significant investment by the Regional Outreach Fund

Several members of the Quebec government, including Minister responsible for the Outaouais Region Stéphanie Vallée, announced yesterday the new Regional Support Fund – the Fonds d’appui au rayonnement des régions (FARR), which will have an impact in the Pontiac MRC. In total, $ 310 million over five years will be invested in regional development through this fund, including $ 20,001,866 for the Outaouais region. This year, $ 30 million will be available to support regional projects. This amount will increase from year to year, reaching $ 100 million annually in 2021-2022.

According to the press release issued yesterday, the Outaouais will receive $ 1.94 million in 2017-2018. This amount will be gradually increased to $ 6.45 million for the 2021 to 2022 fiscal year.

FARR will promote regional mobilization and coordination to support projects that have far reaching effects across a region or at least in more than one regional county municipality (MRC). Selected and prioritized in the regions, these projects will respond to regional peculiarities and contribute to the vitality of the territories.
FARR follows Bill 122, an act primarily designed to recognize that municipalities are local governments and to increase their autonomy and powers in this respect. The bill was tabled on 6 December 2016 and adopted on June 15.