Second round of funding rewards municipalities for progress toward housing targets
The Ontario government is awarding the City of Belleville $801,040 through the second round of the Building Faster Fund, which provides funding to municipalities that achieve at least 80 per cent of their provincially designated housing targets. Belleville broke ground on 250 new homes in 2024, achieving 97 per cent of its 2024 housing target. This funding will help the City of Belleville build more homes and community infrastructure while advancing the province’s plan to protect Ontario by investing in infrastructure to support economic growth and keep workers on the job.
“I want to thank Mayor Ellis along with all the mayors and local councillors across Ontario who are taking bold action to get shovels in the ground faster,” said Graydon Smith, Associate Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. “Through the Building Faster Fund and our historic investments in infrastructure, our government is giving municipalities every tool in our toolbox to build more homes, so families in Belleville and across our province can find a place to call home.”
Announced in August 2023, the Building Faster Fund is a three-year, $1.2 billion program that is designed to encourage municipalities to speed up approval processes and get more homes built faster. The program rewards municipalities that make significant progress against their targets by providing funding for housing-enabling and community-enabling infrastructure.
Ontario is investing nearly $21 million in the County of Hastings through the Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program to enable the construction of over 6,000 new homes. This includes more than $1.25 million for the City of Belleville.
“Today’s funding announcement marks a significant milestone for our city as we progress ahead of schedule in fulfilling our 10-year commitment of 3,100 new housing units,” said Neil Ellis, Mayor of Belleville. “This funding will go towards the Avonlough Sewage Pumping Station and Conveyance System project, which currently represents the City’s largest residential growth initiative. I would like to thank both the provincial government and our dedicated staff for their hard work and commitment to expanding the housing supply in Belleville.”
The Ontario government is also helping to speed up the construction of new homes and infrastructure, including by streamlining development processes and reducing costs in close partnership with municipalities, through the Protect Ontario by Building Faster and Smarter Act 2025.
Quick Facts
- From January to August 2025, Ontario saw 13,910 rental starts, an increase of 25 per cent compared to the same period in 2024. This is the highest level of rental starts on record for this time of the year.
- To help make way for more housing opportunities and support growing communities, the government is also giving municipalities more time to spend funds awarded through the Building Faster Fund, extending the deadline to 2028.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
