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| Backgrounder(s) & FactSheet(s): | Backgrounder |
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| Backgrounder(s) & FactSheet(s): | Backgrounder |
“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.”
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 carrying out a water treatment
feasibility study in Castlegar or assisting with the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional
District’s liquid waste management plans for Sproat Lake and Bamfield, we are
helping communities to find solutions so they are able ultimately to offer
better, more 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,
providing the research and basis for some of the follow up work though the
other programs. For example, almost half of the projects submitted to the
Canada-B.C. Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (MRIF) for funding were
initiated with Infrastructure Planning Grants. The second round of
Infrastructure Planning Grants will be announced in the fall, based on
applications received by July 31.
This funding builds on additional provincial
programs including 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.
A further $47 million in 2008 Small Community and Regional
District grants, announced earlier this spring, are helping to provide for
local services in communities provincewide.
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Ministry of Community Services 250 387-4089 |
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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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