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FAULDER – The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen will benefit from more than $653,000 in federal and provincial funding announced today to help build local infrastructure, enhance community green spaces and address priority projects.
“The Government of Canada is pleased to join with the Province in providing Towns for Tomorrow funding for the Okanagan-Similkameen Regional District, which helps to both build local infrastructure and create jobs,” said Stockwell Day, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway. “This is another example of how the federal government is committed to strengthening B.C.’s economy and keeping British Columbians working.”
The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen will receive:
· $332,800 in federal and provincial funding from the Towns for Tomorrow program for the Faulder Water Well project, which includes drilling a well and installing a pump to address the aquifer’s declining water levels.
· $84,352 from the Trees for Tomorrow program for the following projects:
o $11,624 for the Kaleden Parks & Recreation Commission project.
o $8,000 for the Lion’s Park project.
o $50,000 for the Raven Area – Forest Remediation & Carbon Sequestering Plantation project.
o $10,448 for the Trees for Keogan Sports Park project.
o $4,280 for the Weyerhauser Roundhouse and Bridge of Dreams project.
· $214,787 through the first instalment of the Small Community and Regional District Grant component of the Province’s Strategic Community Investment Fund, a restructuring of provincial grant programs to give communities more funding more quickly.
· $20,000 in Infrastructure Planning Grants:
o $10,000 for the Olalla Water Distribution System Leak Detection Study.
o $10,000 for the Twin Lakes Aquifer Capacity Study.
· $1,080 from the Climate Action Revenue Incentive Program – equal to 100 per cent of the carbon tax paid as part of direct expenditures on fossil fuels. The regional district is one of the more than 175 communities that have signed the Climate Action Charter committing to becoming carbon neutral by 2012.
“It is
critical to ensure that the residents of Faulder have the infrastructure needed
to guarantee a sustainable water supply,” said Okanagan-Westside MLA Rick
Thorpe. “This funding will ensure that a variety of important projects
supporting community sustainability are addressed.”
“The Faulder Community is facing substantial financial challenges to improve the safety and security of its water system,” said Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen chair Dan Ashton. “I am thankful to see the provincial and federal governments are recognizing these challenges and helping to make these improvements affordable.”
The Towns for Tomorrow project is part of an overall $14-billion capital infrastructure program supported by the Province that will create up to 88,000 jobs and help build vital public infrastructure in every region of B.C.
Beyond this funding announcement, the Government of Canada is taking important steps to support economic growth. Canada’s Economic Action Plan, announced in Budget 2009, is a balanced stimulus plan that includes massive investments in infrastructure, tax relief and transfers. This plan will provide close to $12 billion in new infrastructure stimulus funding over two years which will address needs in communities across Canada, as well as contributing to long-term economic growth through investments in public infrastructure, such as roads, water treatment, green energy and transit.
BACKGROUNDER:
Towns for Tomorrow is a five-year, $71-million program that helps smaller communities and regional districts with infrastructure projects. Towns for Tomorrow provides up to 80 per cent of funding for communities under 5,000, to a maximum of $400,000, and 75 per cent of funding for communities up to 15,000, to a maximum of $375,000. As a result of a commitment on the part of all levels of government to accelerate the disbursement of infrastructure funding to stimulate the economy and meet the needs of communities, the federal government is proudly supporting the Towns for Tomorrow program. To learn more, go to www.townsfortomorrow.gov.bc.ca.
Trees for Tomorrow is a five-year, $13-million program that is supporting community organizations, First Nations and local governments in urban and rural areas in planting four million trees in the public areas of cities, towns, villages and regional districts throughout B.C. In its first year, the program is providing approximately $3 million to support the planting of trees and the implementation of other energy-saving initiatives across British Columbia. The initiative, first announced in the 2008 speech from the throne, involves cost-sharing with a range of applicants and stewardship organizations. To learn more, visit www.treesfortomorrow.gov.bc.ca
Strategic Community Investment Fund: Through a restructuring of provincial grant programs, communities will see more funding sooner, giving them greater certainty and improved financial flexibility. Payments will be made on the basis of Strategic Community Investment Agreements with local governments. The first $133-million instalment on this two-year, $232-million initiative consists of the Traffic Fine Revenue Sharing Program and Small Community and Regional District Grants.
Small Community and Regional District Grants: $70 million of the initial $133-million payment under the Strategic Community Investment Fund will support local governments this year as part of the Province’s continuing commitment to help provide services in areas with smaller tax bases. The grant allocation takes into account three elements: basic funding for all municipalities with a population of less than 15,000, population-based funding, and property assessment-based funding. This year’s payment fulfils the Province’s commitment to double these grants over four years.
The Infrastructure Planning Grant Program is providing over $660,000 to help municipalities and regional districts with plans to design, develop and manage sustainable infrastructure. Through the program, local governments can receive up to $10,000 in grant funding. Often these grants fund studies that help communities apply for infrastructure project funding. For example, almost half the projects submitted to the Canada-B.C. Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (MRIF) for funding were initiated with infrastructure planning grants.
The Climate Action Revenue Incentive Program helps communities that have committed to the goal of becoming carbon neutral in their corporate operations by 2012, under the BC Climate Action Charter. The program provides local governments with grants to offset 100 per cent of the carbon tax they have directly paid for fossil fuel purchases.
The RuralBC
Secretariat, established by the Province in 2008, helps local governments access the tools they need to achieve
their unique visions for the future. The
secretariat provides a direct
service and information link between the provincial government and B.C.’s rural
communities. The secretariat's regional managers are there to help
communities take advantage of the most appropriate programs and sources of
provincial and federal funding and identify opportunities to diversify local
economies. Local governments are encouraged to visit www.ruralbc.gov.bc.ca for more
information.
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contact: |
Ministry of Community Development 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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