The Municipality of Morris has hit the ground running in 2017 when it comes to getting projects done, by applying for and receiving some much needed grants. Recently the Morris and District Handi-Van Service lost it's storage facility with the Regional Health Authority and has applied for a grant through Building Canada Small Communities Transportation Fund.

The grant, if approved will be used to build a storage facility for both the vans on the Morris Public Works Shop Site.

"It's been great with the RHA assisting us with a facility, however they now need the facility and our Handi Vans are left without a spot to keep up maintenance and avoid some of our harsher weather. The Handi Vans are a vital resource in the community and in order to maintain them they need to have a proper place to be stored," said Reeve Ralph Groening.

Groening went on to say that the project has an estimated cost of $100,000, noting that the organization is ready to start construction immediately if their grant is approved.

The Municipality however has been approved for an important grant that they applied for awhile back and will be one of the ten recipients receiving funds from the 1.9 million dollars the province has set aside for building or repairing bridges across the province.

"We received a letter a few weeks ago telling us our grant had been approved for $90,000, fifty percent of the upgrade needed at the Riverside Bridge located in Rosenort. We started this project over three years ago and we actually started construction on Monday," explained Groening.

Groening continued by saying that the bridge is essential to the community and that construction is expected to be complete by April of 2017.