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| Backgrounder(s) & FactSheet(s): | Backgrounder |
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| Backgrounder(s) & FactSheet(s): | Backgrounder |
VICTORIA – Sixty-two
local governments will share over $920,000 from the Province’s Infrastructure
Planning Grant Program, helping them to plan for greener, healthier infrastructure
development, Community Services Minister Ida Chong announced today.
“By helping local governments plan and enhance infrastructure,
communities can be more vibrant, sustainable and more active places in which to
live and work,” said Chong. “Planning is key to ensuring our infrastructure and
resources will effectively support residents and the community. With this
funding, local governments can provide public health and environmental benefits
while strengthening local economies.”
The Infrastructure Planning Grant Program offers
grants up to $10,000 to help local governments plan, design and manage
infrastructure. The grants support projects that improve infrastructure
sustainability such as long-term comprehensive plans and studies needed to
assess the economic and environmental feasibility proposed for water, sewer,
drainage and transportation infrastructure.
“Whether it is
developing a liquid waste management plan in Keremeos or assisting with Bowen
Island’s community energy plan, the studies we are helping to fund today will
ultimately assist communities to deliver new, efficient and sustainable
infrastructure to their residents in the future,” added Chong.
These grants are among a series of provincial
funding initiatives available to local governments to help improve community
infrastructure. Almost half of the projects recently submitted to the Municipal
Rural Infrastructure Fund were initiated with Infrastructure Planning Grants.
Additional provincial programs include Towns for
Tomorrow, LocalMotion, B.C. Spirit Squares and the Green City Awards, with a
total of $83.5 million available to invest in local Green Cities infrastructure
projects that improve fitness, reduce pollution and encourage conservation.
The $40 million in 2007 Small Community and Regional District grants announced earlier this spring are helping to provide for local services. The Province continues to return 100 per cent of traffic fine revenues to B.C. municipalities, resulting in $58.8 million going to enhance policing and public safety this year alone.
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contact: |
Ministry of Community Services 250 953-3677 |
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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. |
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