Community Benefits Year-in-Review Report | April 2022-March 2023
ABOUT COMMUNITY BENEFITS
On the Gordie Howe International Bridge project, community benefits are identified opportunities that can advance economic, social or environmental conditions for local communities. In developing the Community Benefits Plan, it was key that the initiatives selected for implementation would provide positive outcomes for the Windsor-Detroit region and specifically focus on enhancing the Sandwich, Ontario and Delray, Michigan communities, the neighbourhoods closest to the project area.
LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We wish to acknowledge that the Sandwich community and land in Canada where the Gordie Howe International Bridge is being constructed sits on Anishinaabe Territory. The Anishinaabeg in the Windsor area are known as the Three Fires Confederacy which consists of the Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi Nations. This land has also served as a place of refuge for the Huron/Wendat people.
BACKGROUND
The mandate to include a Community Benefits Plan as an integral part of the Gordie Howe International Bridge project originates in the Canada-Michigan Crossing Agreement signed in 2012. Recognizing the opportunity to leverage the significant investment of this public infrastructure for the benefit of the Windsor/Sandwich and Detroit/ Delray communities, Canada and Michigan incorporated the requirement for a Community Benefits Plan for the Gordie Howe International Bridge project into the Crossing Agreement that includes:
(A) the manner in which stakeholders and community are to continue to be involved
(B) the manner in which host community input relating to community benefits and stakeholder involvement are to be factored
(C) the manner in which bidders plan to work with local institutes of higher learning, unions and others
(D) the manner in which job training and local job development will be encouraged. The Crossing Agreement further states benefits will be shared equally amongst the two countries.?
VISION
The vision for Community Benefits on the Gordie Howe International Bridge project is to deliver a series of initiatives, based on public input, that create measurable and positive results-based opportunities for the host communities. The plan will:
DEFINING THE COMMUNITY
The approach to developing the Community Benefits Plan has been defined by the local communities on both sides of the border, including:
While the plan will bring many benefits to the region, special attention was given to those who reside or provide services in the areas of Sandwich and Delray.
GOVERNANCE, REPORTING AND PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
COMMUNITY STORIES COMMITTEE
In late summer 2022, the Gordie Howe International Bridge project team launched outreach efforts to recruit members for the Community Stories Committee to support the delivery of the Windsor-Detroit Cross-River Tour initiative, a series of historical interpretive signs to be installed near the two Ports of Entry. This group consists of local community members and subject-matter experts from local historical or cultural associations in Windsor and Detroit and three members of the Local Community Group. Representatives from Walpole Island First Nation and Caldwell First Nation are also engaged to inform sign content. The Community Stories Committee provides suggestions for sign content drawing from historical or cultural events, people and places that are relevant to the Sandwich, Windsor or Delray, Detroit communities.?
PUBLIC CONSULTATION
From before its inception to now, the Windsor and Detroit communities have been engaged in the Community Benefits Plan’s development and implementation. Several consultations have occured over the past fiscal year requesting feedback from community members and the public to inform Community Benefits Plan initiative development and delivery, including:
The Community Benefits Plan is comprised of two components
THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND PARTICIPATION STRATEGY is geared toward engaging businesses and individuals and focuses on supporting workforce, training and pre-apprenticeship/apprenticeship opportunities.
THE NEIGHBOURHOOD INFRASTRUCTURE STRATEGY focuses on collaborating with stakeholders and community members through consultation to develop a community betterments strategy based on priorities identified through public consultation, including community partnerships, community safety and connections, economic benefits and/or aesthetics and landscaping.
NEIGHBOURHOOD INFRASTRUCTURE STRATEGY
The Neighbourhood Infrastructure Strategy includes $20 million in direct community investments for Sandwich/west Windsor and Delray/Southwest Detroit, consistent with the key regional priorities identified through public consultation between 2015-2018. When the Plan was announced in 2019, a portion of the total funding was purposely left unassigned with the intention to assign the funding later in the delivery period. Over the past fiscal year, the project team identified $2.3 million worth of new investment opportunities to bring further benefits to the local communities. New and expanded initiatives are summarized on pages 5-9. All Neighbourhood Infrastructure Strategy funds will be allocated before the end of the design-build period.
$20 million in direct community investments to be spent over five years
Following consultation with the delivery partners, the Local Street Enhancements initiative in Detroit and remaining funding and commitments associated with the Ojibway Park Wildlife Eco-Passage Investment in Windsor have been dissolved due to lack of feasibility. Funds originally committed to these projects will be reinvested in the communities toward initiatives that are similar in spirit and intent.
Community Investments as of March 31, 2023:
COMMUNITY SAFETY AND CONNECTIONS
INVEST IN ADJACENT TRAILS TO CONNECT TO THE GORDIE HOWE INTERNATIONAL BRIDGE - Expanded
The City of Windsor will widen the Matchett Road underpass as part of a municipal multi-use path connecting Malden Park to Broadway Avenue in Windsor. This multi-use path will provide a link to future active transportation connections to the Canadian Port of Entry.
ECONOMIC BENEFITS
SOUTHWEST DETROIT SMALL BUSINESS SUPPORT - New
Puente Cultural Integration, LLC will support bilingual (English and Spanish) business programming including coaching and technical assistance, networking events, workshops, collaborative marketing and marketplace opportunities to support small business owners and entrepreneurs in Southwest Detroit.
SDBA SMALL BUSINESS CENTER IMPROVEMENTS - New
Southwest Detroit Business Association (SDBA) will complete improvements to the Small Business Development Center, including the creation of an updated meeting space and technology hub for small businesses. These improvements will support small business owners by providing access to tools and resources.
SANDWICH BIA PROGRAMMING AND SUPPORT - New
The Olde Sandwich Towne BIA will develop a marketing strategy and beautification plan to enhance the BIA-area and support the Sandwich Town Outdoor Markets, Christmas event and holiday decorations. Funding will also support an infrastructure feature within the BIA.
COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION INVESTMENT - Expanded
Funding increased from $50,000 to $100,000 per country for the 2023 and 2024 Community Organization Investment (COI) funding cycles to support events, programming and/or infrastructure projects delivered by non-profit or charitable organizations in the host communities.?
领英推荐
The John McGivney Children’s Centre installed an accessible ramp allowing families of all ages and abilities to have access to Play McGivney, a playground in Sandwich. A new cement sidewalk from the back of the building to the covered pavilion also allows those in wheelchairs and strollers access to the covered space. Funding for this infrastructure project was provided through the 2021 COI initiative.?
GIRLS GROUP PROGRAMMING - New
The Sandwich Teen Action Group (STAG) Girls Group Choices Program will promote healthy and supportive relationships for young women aged 12-19, including mentorship and skill building activities that lead to healthy lives.?
SOUTHWEST DETROIT YOUTH PROGRAMMING - New
After-school and summer programming to be offered to youth at Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation (DHDC) and the Delray Community Center providing culturally appropriate programs and services that meet the needs of youth within the community.
YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES - New
Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), Windsor-Essex will support free, accessible mental health services, addictions support and education provided to youth through community partners and west Windsor schools. Additional supports include the hiring of a dedicated social worker and availability of a dietician.
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE AND PROGRAMMING - New
Investments in the Congress of Communities’ youth-driven community center will support green programming, community education and infrastructure improvements, including the expansion of the community garden program. Funding will also support assessment and integration of sustainable policies into the organization.
INDIGENOUS YOUTH PROGRAMMING AND EVENTS - New
Turtle Island - Aboriginal Education Centre (University of Windsor) will support two Pow Wow events, along with March break and summer camp programming in 2023 and 2024 to engage local Indigenous and non-Indigenous secondary-school students.
PROSPERUS PARTNERSHIP
ProsperUS’ Ignite Academy provides daily nutrition, recreation and mental wellness programming as well as structured academic supports to students throughout the school year. Community Benefits Plan funding enables delivery of Ignite Academy programming for 27 students in grades 2-7 and their families at Brock Public School in Sandwich.
AESTHETICS AND LANDSCAPING
NEIGHBOURHOOD PARK IMPROVEMENTS
Community members can now enjoy new outdoor fitness equipment at Clark Park in Southwest Detroit and a new gazebo and an enhanced boardwalk at McKee Park in Sandwich. The investments into local community parks were funded by the Community Benefits Plan and delivered in partnership with the City of Detroit and City of Windsor.?
COMMUNITY HOME REPAIR PROGRAM
Community members can now enjoy new outdoor fitness equipment at Clark Park in Southwest Detroit and a new gazebo and an enhanced boardwalk at McKee Park in Sandwich. The investments into local community parks were funded by the Community Benefits Plan and delivered in partnership with the City of Detroit and City of Windsor. A new gazebo and enhanced boardwalk in McKee Park, Sandwich. Outdoor fitness equipment at Clark Park, Southwest Detroit. In December 2022, the project team expanded the catchment area for the Delray Home Improvement Program to include the Carbon Works neighbourhood in Southwest Detroit. Through the program, eligible applicants can access free home repairs from a pre-approved repair/ replacement list, based on an assessment of the home. At the end of March 2023, 74 homes have been repaired or were in the process of receiving repairs through this program.??
“My dad is so happy with his new windows. He went and got bags of bird seed because now he can look out from his kitchen and actually see the birds.” Family member of a Delray Home Improvement Program participant.
NEIGHBOURHOOD GREEN IMPROVEMENTS - Expanded?
Funding was increased in support of Essex Region Conservation Authority’s (ERCA) Triple Tree Impact initiative to deliver three additional community tree planting events in Sandwich-area parks and to engage community volunteers in hands-on environmental stewardship activities.
"ERCA is so grateful to partner to make an environmental impact in Sandwich Town. As a result of this partnership to date, 350 volunteers participated in 10 stewardship events, adding 140 trees and shrubs to the landscape while removing 2,034 lbs of litter from this Detroit River watershed. This continuation of support will facilitate more environmental improvements in the Town of Sandwich.” Tim Byrne, CAO, Essex Region Conservation Authority
YOUTH ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAM - New
The Greening of Detroit’s TreeKeepers Kids Program is an environmental education program designed to engage students in three Southwest Detroit schools in activities that promote environmental awareness and stewardship. The partnership also includes tree planting at neighbourhood schools or parks.
TRI-CENTENARY CANOE MONUMENT RELOCATION - New
Funding provided to the Association des communautés francophones de l’Ontario Windsor Essex, Chatham-Kent (ACFO WECK) to support the restoration and relocation of a tricentenary canoe monument from east Windsor to a Sandwich-area park.
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND PARTICIPATION STRATEGY
The Workforce Development and Participation Strategy focuses on creating and making jobs, training and contracting opportunities accessible to local workers and contractors while leveraging existing local resources to maximize these opportunities.?
2023 COMMUNITY BENEFITS LOOKAHEAD