Middlesex Centre ON

and meeting the needs of its residents. Middlesex Centre embraces a tight-knit community feel while offering their residents a lot in terms of recreation and programming, with room for tourism too. PROPER PLANNING What has allowed Middlesex Centre to thrive is the council’s ability and dedication to stay on top of the rapid growth. “We’ve laid the brickwork and the foundation to continue to grow,” explains Michael Di Lullo, Chief Administrative Officer. “We have a number of strategic and master plans in place that allow us to provide a lifestyle that caters to our existing and new residents. And that’s what makes us, I think, a great place to come and live.” Another plan that Middlesex Centre has in place is its community improvement plan that supports new and existing businesses. This plan was introduced originally in just one settlement (Ilderton) but opened up to the entire municipality in 2021. It offers financial support in different areas depending on the needs of a business, such as working on facade improvements, energy efficiency, or accessibility accommodations. During the pandemic, there was money put aside to help businesses modify to continue to serve their clientele. In terms of incentives for new businesses, many are in place naturally. Middlesex Centre offers businesses a fantastic strategic location, with quick and easy access to major Canadian highways and the US border, as well as airports and the rail system. It’s quite close to major cities like Toronto and Detroit, which offers great benefits for businesses. IT’S EASY BEING GREEN DeViet and Di Lullo joined our interview from the Komoka Wellness Centre, which opened in 2011 and features a number of sustainable features. The building, which is home to two ice rinks, has roof-top solar panels and uses waste energy from the ice refrigeration plant to heat common areas 7 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 05, ISSUE 05 MIDDLESEX CENTRE, ON