 |
|
VICTORIA
– More than 150
British Columbia communities are embracing the Province’s vision of greener,
healthier and more active communities, applying for the $81 million available
in new provincial Green Cities infrastructure funding, said Community Services
Minister Ida Chong.
“The
calibre of submissions from local governments is outstanding, be they plans for
public gathering places, safer drinking water and cleaner air, or projects that
provide more choices for British Columbians to be active,” said Chong. “Each of
our three new programs – Towns for Tomorrow, LocalMotion and B.C. Spirit
Squares – is focused on building vibrant, connected and sustainable
communities, offering everyone even greater places to live and work.”
To
date, over 400 project applications have been
submitted for consideration for the three programs. Those applications submitted by the Feb. 16, 2007 deadline are currently being
reviewed, with successful projects to be announced later this spring.
Communities that did not submit proposals this round will have another
opportunity to access Towns for Tomorrow and LocalMotion funding, as they are
multi-year programs.
“I encourage communities that have not yet made an application,
but are interested in undertaking new capital improvement, to consider doing
so,” Chong added.
Towns for Tomorrow (www.townsfortomorrow.gov.bc.ca)
is a three-year, $21-million program geared to providing infrastructure funding
for B.C.’s smaller communities.
LocalMotion
(www.localmotion.gov.bc.ca) is
providing $40 million over four years for projects that improve physical
fitness and safety, reduce air pollution, and meet the diverse needs of British
Columbians, including supporting cycling and pedestrian pathways.
B.C. Spirit Squares (www.spiritsquares.gov.bc.ca) is
a $20-million program aimed at creating or enhancing outdoor public celebration
spaces.
The ministry also recently launched the Green City Awards Program (www.greencityawards.gov.bc.ca) which will provide $2.5 million over five years to municipalities and
regional districts that encourage physical activity, energy conservation and
environmental benefits.
Each program builds on B.C.’s Pacific Leadership
Agenda and supports ActNow BC, a provincewide health
promotion initiative focused on encouraging British Columbians to live
healthier lives by being more physically active.
-30-
|
contact: |
Ministry of Community Services 250 356-6334 |
|
|
|
||
|
For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province’s news feeds using RSS, visit the Province’s website at www.gov.bc.ca. |
||
