The City of Charlottetown is helping make sure the popular Cows ice cream brand grows this summer.
The city passed a resolution Monday night that will see it apply for more than $1 million in federal infrastructure money to service, under water and sewer, Poplar Island, the area on the North River Causeway that is home to the P.E.I. Factory Outlets, which includes Levi's, Paderno and Cows.
Coun. David MacDonald, chair of water and sewer, said it will help service Cows Creamery, the new headquarters of the ice-cream maker that will also serve as a tourist attraction. Plans call for Cows to build a 25,000-square-foot facility near the factory outlets on the causeway where the company would make its ice cream and T-shirts.
Plans are to begin construction this spring on the $5-million project.
The city is applying for $1,070,000 under the Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund program, which means all three levels of government will share the cost of servicing the area with water and sewer. The federal and provincial governments will be responsible for more than $700,000 while the city comes in at just under $360,000.
The project will include water services from the intersection of Maypoint Road along the Trans-Canada Highway to Poplar Island, and sanitary services from the area east of the Holiday Inn Express, west along the highway to Poplar Island, including the construction of a sewer lift station near the factory outlets.
MacDonald said the city is also undertaking the project because it anticipates future expansion of Upton Farm, both plans for a large residential subdivision and a concert venue.
"We're anticipating with the Upton Farm possible expansion into either an entertainment venue or with Canada Lands' plans to build a subdivision and with the expansion to the Cows' plant creamery that we're going to have to service the area eventually,'' MacDonald said.
The city looked at this project a year ago but rejected it. Cost was one of the factors. However, this time the city says it is getting a good deal.
"This year we were able to make some deals that make it very, very, very cost-efficient for the city to be involved.''
MacDonald wouldn't be specific but it is believed the owners of Cows and the P.E.I. Factory Outlet have agreed to pay the city's share.
"It's virtually costing the city nothing at the end of the day to get this done,'' MacDonald said.
The city's water and sewer utility isn't without risk though.
It makes its money off fees from its customers. In the near future, that will only include the factory outlets since Canada Lands has no immediate plans to move forward with its subdivision.
"To service the debt on this initially, the customers we have on Poplar Island are not going to be able to service that debt entirely but when that area expands and the subdivision comes in, if it does come in, (it will).''
Cash for Cows
Cash for Cows
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Comments
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- Poplar Island will be
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:41:38
The January 21, 2000 storm surge flooded the factory outlets with over 1 foot of sea water for several hours.
Why are we encouraging development in a location that is prone to flooding?
If I were an insurance company.... -
- BRY Taxpayer from Away
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:33:08
Well I guess none of these comments include people who will build the new facility, supply services, will be employed, act as tourism draws, or will benefit from the economic return from this. If it was water and sewer to their homes they would see it as their right and demand the services. The taxes paid for this new facility will help pay for many of your services. Keep it up and you will have no private business in the province.
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- Don't believe the hype
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:29:31
To Brainwashed: This story does not indicat thet tax dollars are going to pay the expenses of Private Business. It states the city is extending the reach of the water and sewer. Cows and the Factory Outlet will then be able to hook on to it and will have to pay the municiple water and sewer fees. Do you not think that te city ran the rest of the service out to the airport, or out to the Industrial park. The city is paying to extend it's services like any other city in teh country would. They can then charge the businesses the usage fee, wether they hook on or not.
I had friend that lived in a subdivision that the city did not offer sewer to for a while. Then the city extended the sewer past his house. He had the option of wether to hook on or not, but regardless of what he decided, they were going to charge him for the service as it was available. What would be the difference here?
Now if they gave them a loan to expand their plant, or to pay employees, that would be entirely different. But the city is responsible to extend it's service to meet all within it's boundries. Anyone who doesn't realize this is brainless. -
- Jarrod
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:26:30
And at first I thought the headline meant there was money coming for beef producers.
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- Read the Facts
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:25:30
Headline should have read COWS gave cash. By the looks of the bottom of the article the company is funding 1/3 of the capital project with no cost to the city. How many infrastructure projects do you normally see funded by corporations. As usual Islanders jump to conclusions and look to blame the goverment. Which may be the case in most instances but this is not one of them.
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- BRAINWASHED
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:19:47
I can see by some of these comments that a number of you have been brainwashed over the years to really believe that it is the taxpayers responsibility to pay the expenses of PRIVATE businesses. All they do is dangle a couple of minimum wages jobs in front of your face and you are ready to give them millions in taxpayers hard earned dollars. WAKE UP... Its time for PRIVATE business to be PRIVATE BUSINESS. This does not only apply to COWS but all businesses on the Island that are using Taxpayers dollars to run their Companies and their are many
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- Not Again!
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:18:23
We're not giving this guy our money again, are we ??
Didnt' he just get millions not too long ago from us!
Ya, way to go PEI , keep giving our money, to keep his businesses going, and expanding around the world, for a place where most of us islanders can't even afford to buy a ice cream cone, from, cause it's prices are outragous, but it's great for him, someone buys one cone, and it' pays for the employee's hourly wage!
Go ahead, PEI, Keep saving all these seasonal min. wage jobs, that people can't afford to live off of, and then keep on saying, Gee I wonder why everyone is gone out west!
It's a pretty sad suitation, when so many islanders have to leave where they live and want to stay, but can't survive here!
Smartin UP!! -
- JOE
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:15:12
Read the facts , do you think the 700,000 dollars came from the invisible man, no it came from the taxpayer ,you and the mayor should get together you both seem to think this 700,000. thats coming from fed. and provincal taxes is free money, well news flash to you both its TAX money , probably the tax money they steal from us at the pumps, shake your head , or at least open your eyes ,unless your related somehow to mr.lee ,premier ghiz or worse yet minister downtown brown!
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- Jeremy
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:14:59
I think it is a great idea, anything we can do to help local business is great. The more money we keep in PEI the more we all benefit in the long term.
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- joe
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:10:54
Same old story ,
Taxpayer pays the shot and we can,t even afford the product? but that min. wage job sure looks good!
Help the rich! it sounds so familiar.Don,t forget this is the poor mans money they,re spending.
What the city does with their tax money is Their buisness, provincial and federal money thats another story , if theres that much money $700,000. in the federal and provincial coffers that they can give it to ice cream shops that operate 2 months out of the year on pei , then i say lower taxes so we can buy fuel to heat our houses and drive our cars. Thank you mr. lee and mr. ghiz for your consideration . you,re an as- set to our community. see you both at election time. -
- won't last much longer
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:06:05
It will come crashing down soon as half the working population is reaching retirement and the younger half is heading to other locations to get decent paying jobs. What will out LEADERS do then when there is no more tax dollars coming into the trough.
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- Bee
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:06:03
At the price it costs to go to cows, they should have the funds available to cover their own expenses, it shouldn't be tax payers responsibilities.
Or they should be seeking funding like other seasonal tourist attractions through the proper channels...but, oops I guess they wouldn't meet the criteria.
If only other people could bend the rules like that to get their own way. -
- can'taffordcows
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:04:36
I now have a taxpayer's interest in Cows, but I can't afford their over-hyped product. I've always thought their prices to be grossly extortionary, made possible because of a slick promotional campaign on the stylized image of cows. At least I can walk the trails, and it's more healthful for me, too.
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- John
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:02:32
We still can not afford 2 RCMP officers to catch a pervert. But we maybe can give him ICECREAM.
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- WHEN??
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:56:21
When are you bunch of incompetent boobs going to stop funding PRIVATE businesses and start looking after the people that voted you in. Please try to remember that there is more to your job than freebees to the multi million dollar businesses and pay raises for yourselves
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- Bait and Switch Head Line
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:55:48
No one seems to be able to see past the headline for this article. AND the headline doesn't suit the contents. Looks to me as if COWS is paying into the project not grabbing money from it. My reaction to the news was more in line with Hey, it's going to be underwater every time there's a storm surge so why are they putting building anything there??
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- Don't believe the hype
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:55:09
It is sad thet BRY Taxpayer seems to understand this better then most people around here. It is not the reponsibility of the businesses to run the water and sewer out to the island The city is responsible to provide the service to its citizens, both private and corporate. They would, after all, pay municiple taxes as well, and once this project is complete, will pay municiple water & sewer. And that is not taking into account income from employment and construction. I am sure there are other area on the outskirts of Charottetown that have difficulty covering the cost it took to run water ad sewer to their properties. And a move like this may just provide the incentive for Canada Lands to develop that subdivision, leading to more employment, new housing, and further water & sewer revenues.
The only question I have, is that if Cows and the PEI factory outlet is picking up the Cities share, which I would question why they should, what debt is it that the constomers on Popular Island will not be able to service? If they paid for it, there is no debt to the city. I am sure once it is in, the service fees will cover the up keep. -
- Can anybody here read
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:54:55
MacDonald wouldnt be specific but it is believed the owners of Cows and the P.E.I. Factory Outlet have agreed to pay the citys share.
Can you people commenting on here please at least read the article, I mean come on, seriously. It appears that the factory outlets are footing the city's share in antipation of more business once this is complete, perhaps the are inticipating that increase in bussiness from the concert site perhaps. Maybe cows is looking to export to other places in Canada, as this is a fairly big structure at 25,000 Sq Ft. Maybe some future exports to other parts of the world, maybe future expansions in Canada. But hey your right we should not foot this bill, it appears as if they already are, along with the PEI Factory Outlets, maybe some of you in your great and ever knowing wisdom just have to read the headline of a story to know what is is about. Knid of funny though to see you all rambling about giving cows money to build this extension to the sewer system when it appears they are footing the bill. -
- Mel
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:54:43
Once more, the taxpayers of PEI are being ripped off by another company that does not need our hard earned funds- the City Council now is acting like the PEI feds- and province- GIVE AWAY THE PEOPLE'S MONEY to undeserving funding!
IT IS SICKENING! -
- Ridiculous
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:51:26
As I read this story, I am by far happy that my taxes do not go to the Province of Prince Edward Island anymore. My family and I moved away in Sept. 2007 and it was the best move ever. We actually have money now and can make a reasonable living. It's ridiculous that tax payers dollars go to fund COWS ICE CREAM expansions.... Tax Payers dollars should go to help individuals/families who need extra cash for living expenses such has oil in the winter, etc. This province is losing a lot of the younger generations due to no jobs. It's a shame cause it's such a beautiful province to raise a family. PEI gov't need to get their priorities straight and help people instead of funding business like COWS that charge an arms & a leg for an ice cream cone that most families cannot afford.
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- Infrastructure
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:51:01
Federal Infrastructure money is geared towards the construction and maintenance of public assets. Just because Cows sells ice-cream, does it make it a community structure? In the past, MRIF money has gone towards more constructive projects in the communities across PEI.
The federal and provincial governments provide two thirds of the eligible funds and the rest is funded by the municipality.
What is the opportunity cost of these funds? Where could they have been used otherwise?
It is now up to the Management Committee within the Provincial/Federal Infrastructure Secretariat to decide whether to approve this project. It seems its already a done deal, the way its being publicized. -
- Will
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:46:30
At their price of 5 dollars for a small cone! now they want more from the public?Of course those elected officals will cave in and hand it out.
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- With or Without Ice Cream
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:44:05
This is just commonplace on PEI now, tax dollars going to select private businesses, and a great many people have become so acclimatized to this that they no longer question the practise. Its nice to see some good, healthy questioning here. And FYI, its neither normal nor healthy for public dollars to fund private matters. We are a family of five and we dont go to Cows because it is too expensive for what you get. Now well contribute to this company and not have the reward of the ice creamdoesnt seem fair.
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- another BS decision
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:43:27
Virtually cost the city nothing?
THEN BE SPECIFIC MACDONALD!
...but it is believed the owners of Cows and the P.E.I. Factory Outlet have agreed to pay the citys share.
(yes go ahead and pass the resolution, because its believed?) Why not eh.. Noone has ever backed out of any payments in the past. Im anxious to see how much this really will cost.
If the price jumps (and it will) I AM POSITIVE that the outlet shops and cows will not cover the difference.
But yes, by all means pass it.
For gods sake dont help the small businessman trying to sell an ice cream cone on the corner. -
- Rube
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:42:35
Maybe if we stopped electing business people, businesses would stop catching all the breaks.
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- jackie
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:42:33
Oh my land !!
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- befuddled
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:38:38
Once again the city steps in to approve a scatterbrained project which will end up costing more in the future when those lands are permanently flooded due to global warming and they have to move the sewer and water lines to higher ground. Does anyone in that place talk to anyone else? They have the projections that show that area and the recently developed waterfront condos under water - Isn't that enough to freeze any new development on those lands or they so interested in immediate gain they fail to see the trees for the forest?
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- How many millions in tax
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:37:33
Only in PEI...
Cow's expansion is publicly funded by MY TAXES to benefit a private citizen.
Now MY TAXES are being used to extend the sewer and water systems to service a seasonal private citizen.
I wonder how many millions of MY TAXES have gone and will ontinue to flow to an ice creamery charging $6.00 for a cone of ice cream?
It's a crime. -
- huh?
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:36:11
So cows are not doing good enough to fund this themselves? where is their money going? go in for a few cones and its over $20. for $1. worth of icecream.. so wheres the other $19. going? The places are busy during the summer.. if they dont have 1 million profit a year to put towards this or cant get a company bank loan.. I would be worried giving them the money..
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- Deb
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:34:00
There is a Cows ice cream place on the Halifax waterfront. I haven't been there yet. I don't think the taxpayers should be funding a private company, but that's just me.
