South Huron lands $2.7 million grant for Exeter Main Street rebuild

South Huron received $2.7 million from the province on Feb. 17 to help fund phase three of the reconstruction of Main Street in Exeter. Pictured from left is Coun. Wendy McLeod-Haggitt, chief administrative officer Rebekah Msuya-Collison, Huron-Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson, infrastructure and development manager Don Giberson, transportation services foreman Taylor Hodgins, Mayor George Finch, environmental services manager Alyssa Keller and Coun. Marissa Vaughan.

By Dan Rolph, Editor

The third phase of reconstruction of Exeter’s Main Street will have shovels in the ground next year after receiving a $2.7 million funding boost from the provincial government on Feb. 17.

Huron-Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson visited Exeter’s town hall to celebrate the funding announcement, which comes through Ontario’s 2026-27 Connecting Links program.

“Exeter is a gateway,” said Thompson. “When you think of the four corners at Highways 83 and 4, right through into Middlesex, this matters.

“It’s a no brainer from a Connecting Links perspective.”

The third phase of Exeter’s Main Street reconstruction will stretch from Victoria Street to Sanders Street.

The Connecting Links grant is the third received for the project, with the first two phases having each received $3 million.

South Huron Mayor George Finch pointed to Exeter’s aging infrastructure as a reason the work is vital to the community’s future.

“If we don’t do something proactive, we’re damaging our reputation and the future generations of South Huron residents,” he said. “That’s not the reputation we want.

“We want to be progressive.”

Finch said South Huron has a “great” relationship with the province, which has helped the municipality in pursuing funding for such hefty infrastructure projects.

“Many municipalities are applying for the funding across Ontario, and we’re very happy to get this funding,” he said.

Though the mood was celebratory as Thompson announced the Connecting Links funding, the project’s third phase did face roadblocks last year on its path to securing the grant.

When the project was first discussed by council in Sept. 2025 they were split on the matter. Finch supported pursuing the grant, alongside councillors Ted Oke and Aaron Neeb.

However, councillors Wendy McLeod-Haggitt and Marissa Vaughan voted against pursuing the grant, while Coun. Milt Dietrich didn’t cast a vote and Deputy Mayor Jim Dietrich wasn’t at that meeting.

Finch soon after used his “strong mayor” powers to veto that vote, and a bylaw directing municipal staff to pursue the grant was brought before council in Oct. 2025, passing with support from Finch, Oke, Neeb and Jim Dietrich.

Vaughan and McLeod-Haggitt also voted against that motion, while Milt Dietrich was absent from the meeting.

Finch said the Connecting Links funding will save the municipality from spending tax dollars to tackle Main Street’s reconstruction, which will replace 60-year-old infrastructure beneath the roadway.

“Those projects have to be completed because it’s not going to fix itself,” said Finch. “Everybody takes it for granted that those pipes are okay. Our staff, they realize that they have a shelf life, and you’ve got to invest in that in order to make sure it’s safe.”