McCann Redi-Mix Makes Large Donation to United Way Housing

by Bob Montgomery

McCann Redi-Mix President Jesse McCann says the company is celebrating its 70th anniversary so they're donating a total of 70-thousand dollars to a variety of charities to mark the occasion.

McCann says 25-thousand dollars of that is going to the United Way Housing Initiative. McCann says they chose the United Way Housing Initiative because housing is a huge issue right now and while it's often thought of as a big-city problem, they know it's a problem throughout the country and in Huron County. “When we heard of United Housing it seemed like a great fit, they had a strategic plan and it's realistic, it's attainable, so it was a no-brainer for us.”

McCann adds, they have about 150 people on their staff and while housing isn't a major problem for them directly, creating more housing on the market will help them as well as the rest of the community.

United Way Executive Director Ryan Erb says they're really grateful for the 25-thousand dollar donation from McCann Redi-Mix and that money will be used as seed money for what has just been announced as United Housing. Erb says United Housing is a new organization that will be building affordable and mixed income housing for them across the region.

Erb says they currently have six projects in pre-development across Perth and Huron. “And, the ones that will probably be first out of the gate, one in Listowel and one in Stratford and then down the road we're looking at projects in Goderich and in Exeter, so all kinds of things are happening behind the scenes but it takes a long time to get development to the point where you can get shovels in the ground.”

Erb says one things that's actually in their favour is that everyone knows that housing is a big problem, so when they start talking about trying to tackle that issue, the community is glad they are. “Whether it's because they know their parents are trying to downsize and there's nowhere for them to go, or whether it's because they're thinking of their child who is graduating from university and can't find housing in the region, or they know somebody who has recently got a job here and can't find a place to live, and then there are the people who are homeless”. Erb added, just about everybody is feeling the challenge so they appreciate the support they're getting as they try to address it.

From left: Jesse McCann, Blair McCann, Adam McCann, Kyle McCann, Ryan Erb and Michelle Millar