Exciting new infrastructure is coming to the community of Ste Agathe.

Louis Allain, Executive Director of the Economic Development Council for Manitoba Bilingual Municipalities (CDEM), was on hand Friday to announce a $45,500 grant to go towards building a dock along the Red River.

“The dock will give life back to the Red River,” says Allain. “It’s a very important infrastructure that is within what we had imagined when we did the master plan.”

According to Allain, the plan is to enhance and bring accessibility to the river all the way from the American border to Lake Winnipeg.

“This project is part of a larger vision,” says Justin Johnson, Chief Executive Officer for Association of Manitoba Bilingual Municipalities, “and we hope that the funds announced today will be able to help that project move ahead and reach completion.”

Johnson says the objective is to bolster tourism to stimulate the local economy while offering recreational activities, such as canoeing and kayaking, for residents of the community.

“This is one step forward for the community of Ste Agathe toward the main objective,” says Johnson, “and we look forward to continuing to identify new projects that will grow our communities and make them more attractive.”

Allain says the community’s leadership has been instrumental in coming up with projects that tie into CDEM’s vision and singles out their readiness as a reason why they were chosen for the project.

“As they say,” offers Allain, “they’re shovel-ready.”

The project will begin before winter and is expected to be finished by March 31st.