Building Faster Fund Rewards Belleville’s Strong Housing Growth Performance
BELLEVILLE, Ontario — The Ontario government has awarded the City of Belleville more than $1.24 million through the third round of the province’s Building Faster Fund after the municipality significantly exceeded its housing construction target in 2025.
The funding announcement, made by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing on July 15, comes as Ontario continues to push municipalities to accelerate residential development and address housing supply challenges across the province.
Belleville broke ground on 418 new homes in 2025, surpassing its provincially assigned annual housing target by nearly 35 per cent. The achievement qualified the city for funding under the Building Faster Fund, a provincial program designed to reward municipalities that meet or exceed at least 80 per cent of their designated housing targets.
Provincial officials said the funding will support additional housing-related infrastructure and community projects while helping maintain economic activity and employment in the construction sector.
“I applaud Mayor Ellis and municipal leaders across Ontario who are taking bold action to get shovels in the ground,” said Rob Flack, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. “Our government is taking decisive action to support municipalities and create the conditions to help them build more homes, smarter and faster, through initiatives such as the Building Faster Fund and the recently announced Development Charge Reduction Program.”
Belleville Growth Continues as Housing Demand Increases
The City of Belleville has experienced steady population growth in recent years as more residents and families choose the region as a place to live and work. Municipal leaders say the latest provincial investment will help ensure local infrastructure keeps pace with rising demand.
Mayor Highlights Infrastructure and Community Benefits
Mayor Neil Ellis welcomed the funding and said it will help the city continue expanding housing opportunities while strengthening local services and infrastructure.
“As more people choose to call Belleville home, we are working hard to ensure our infrastructure and services keep pace with our community’s growth,” said Neil Ellis, Mayor of Belleville. “This investment through the Building Faster Fund will help us continue creating the conditions needed for new housing while strengthening our community for years to come. We are grateful to the Ontario government for recognizing Belleville’s efforts and for being a valued partner in supporting our city’s growth and long-term success.”
The Building Faster Fund was launched in August 2023 as a three-year program worth up to $1.2 billion. The initiative provides financial incentives to municipalities that make substantial progress toward provincial housing targets, with funds intended to support infrastructure required for growing communities.
Province Expands Housing Incentives and Development Reforms
The Belleville funding announcement forms part of a broader provincial strategy aimed at increasing housing supply and reducing barriers to residential development.
Ontario has recently introduced measures intended to streamline planning and development processes, including the Building Homes and Improving Transportation Infrastructure Act, 2026 and the HST Relief Implementation Act (Residential Property Rebates), 2026.
The province has also launched the Development Charge Reduction Program as part of the up to $8.8 billion Canada-Ontario Partnership to Build. The initiative will provide support for housing-enabling infrastructure projects over the next decade, with priority given to municipalities that lower and maintain reduced development charges.
In addition, Ontario’s temporary removal of the HST on new homes between April 1, 2026, and March 31, 2027, is expected to reduce the cost of purchasing a newly built home by as much as $130,000 for eligible buyers.
Provincial officials say the combined measures are intended to improve housing affordability, support builders and sustain employment in the residential construction sector.
Local MPP Points to Continued Housing Momentum
Tyler Allsopp, MPP for Bay of Quinte, said Belleville’s performance demonstrates the effectiveness of efforts to increase housing supply in the region.
“It is encouraging to see that Belleville significantly exceeded its housing targets for 2025,” said Tyler Allsopp, MPP for Bay of Quinte. “That means additional homes for families in our fast-growing area, but it also triggers new investment through the Building Faster Fund. For a third consecutive year, the City will receive this provincial funding to build key growth-related infrastructure, allowing further progress on our shared goal of increasing housing supply.”
Ontario Records Strong Housing Start Growth in 2026
Recent provincial housing data shows continued momentum across Ontario’s residential construction sector.
According to the province, Ontario recorded 26,084 housing starts between January and May 2026, representing a 17.2 per cent increase compared with the same period in 2025.
Rental construction has seen particularly strong growth. Ontario reported 13,599 rental housing starts during the first five months of 2026, up 94.9 per cent year over year and marking a record level for that period.
The province has also extended the deadline for municipalities to spend Building Faster Fund allocations until 2028, providing additional flexibility for local governments to complete housing-supporting infrastructure projects.
In the Hastings County region, Ontario is investing $59 million through the Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program, funding expected to support approximately 6,000 new homes. The investment includes more than $1 million designated for the City of Belleville, further reinforcing the municipality’s role in meeting regional housing demand.