BELLEVILLE, Ont. — The Ontario government has awarded the City of Belleville more than $801,000 through the second round of its Building Faster Fund, recognizing the municipality’s progress in meeting provincial housing targets and supporting infrastructure development.
The $801,040 allocation comes as part of a provincial initiative rewarding communities that achieve at least 80 per cent of their annual housing goals. Belleville exceeded that benchmark in 2024, breaking ground on 250 new homes—97 per cent of its assigned target.
Officials say the funding will be used to expand essential community infrastructure and sustain momentum in housing construction, aligning with Ontario’s broader strategy to spur economic growth while addressing the province’s ongoing housing shortage.
Rewarding Results in Housing Development
The Building Faster Fund, announced in August 2023, is a three-year, $1.2-billion provincial program that incentivizes municipalities to speed up development approvals and construction starts. Funding is directed toward infrastructure projects that enable or support housing growth, helping communities build roads, water systems, and public amenities essential for new neighbourhoods.
“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.”
In addition to the Belleville grant, the province is investing nearly $21 million in the County of Hastings through the Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program. That investment aims to enable the construction of more than 6,000 new homes, including $1.25 million earmarked specifically for Belleville.
Belleville Advancing on Long-Term Housing Goals
City officials welcomed the announcement as validation of Belleville’s efforts to expand its housing supply ahead of schedule.
“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 Avonlough project is a cornerstone of Belleville’s infrastructure expansion, expected to support thousands of future housing units. Local officials have positioned it as key to accommodating rapid growth and meeting the city’s long-term population and development targets.
Provincial Push to Build Faster and Smarter
The Ontario government has made housing a central pillar of its economic policy, citing both affordability and labour market concerns. Through legislative reforms such as the Protect Ontario by Building Faster and Smarter Act, 2025, the province aims to streamline approvals, reduce red tape, and lower development costs in partnership with municipalities.
“As the City of Belleville continues to rise to the call to increase housing supply through new starts, it requires support to modernize and expand infrastructure,” said Tyler Allsopp, Member of Provincial Parliament for Bay of Quinte. “Triggered by its progress in 2024, our government’s investment of $801,040 through the Building Faster Fund will ensure the city can plan and build as it grows, strengthening our regional economy.”
Ric Bresee, MPP for Hastings–Lennox and Addington, echoed that sentiment, emphasizing the collaborative approach between provincial and local governments. “The Ontario government is active and committed in its drive to ensure an adequate housing supply. I continue to be grateful for the great relationship between the province and our municipal partners. This funding announcement highlights the residential growth achieved in the Belleville area, and even more so, highlights what can be achieved when all levels of government work together.”
Record Housing Starts and Extended Timelines
The province reports a strong pace of residential construction so far this year. Between January and August 2025, Ontario recorded 13,910 rental housing starts—an increase of 25 per cent from the same period in 2024 and the highest level on record for that time of year.
To help municipalities sustain momentum, the government has extended the deadline for spending Building Faster Fund allocations to 2028, allowing more time to complete eligible projects that enable housing growth.
The Belleville grant marks another step in Ontario’s push to accelerate homebuilding across the province, pairing infrastructure investment with performance-based rewards for municipalities that deliver results.
