The infrastructure funds coming to Thunder Bay can be accounted for in Budget deliberations.

That’s according to Mayor Bill Mauro, who was asked Friday about Wednesday’s announcement of the launch of the Northern Ontario Resource Development Support Fund, which will provide $15 million annually to municipalities over the next five years.

“It’s solid, and guaranteed by the province,” Mauro told Acadia News. “I think in our capital budget in January, we certainly can account for this as if it’s on the books, even though the money isn’t released until March, and plan accordingly.”

Municipalities have to submit their projects to the province starting on Tuesday, December 7th as to what they want to use it for, which is for accounting and transparency purposes, according to Shuniah Mayor Wendy Landry, who also serves as the President of the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association (NOMA).

Thunder Bay is in line to receive $400,000 to help offset the cost of community infrastructure projects.

Other local communities on the list include:

Oliver Paipoonge $136,424
Shuniah $130,003
Terrace Bay $82,355
Nipigon $80,263
Ignace $77,521
Schreiber $73,373
Conmee $61,723

Funding for year one will be distributed to eligible municipalities by March 31, 2022.