$4.5 MILLION BENEFITS CENTRAL KOOTENAY COMMUNITIES

VICTORIA – Five local governments in the Central Kootenays will benefit from more than $4.5 million in federal and provincial funding to enhance recreation, renew infrastructure and plan for future growth.

“The Government of Canada is pleased to join with the Province in providing Towns for Tomorrow and LocalMotion funding for communities in the Central Kootenays, which helps to both build local infrastructure and create jobs,” said Jim Abbott, MP for Kootenay - Columbia. “This is another example of how the federal government is committed to strengthening B.C.’s economy and keeping British Columbians working.”

“Partnering with communities is critical when it comes to ensuring the Province of British Columbia comes out of this global economic shift sooner and with more strength,” said Bill Bennett, Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts. “By teaming up with these communities, we are helping to provide jobs, protect the environment and strengthen our province for the future.”

The $596,381 in funding for the Central Kootenay Regional District includes:

· $375,000 in federal and provincial funding from the Towns for Tomorrow program for energy efficiency improvements to community complexes in Nelson, Creston and Castlegar. This will includes changes to allow the complexes to reuse waste heat, reduce natural gas consumption and further the regional district’s goal to become carbon neutral by 2012.

· $195,261 from the Strategic Community Investment Fund, a restructuring of provincial grant programs to give communities more funding sooner, including Regional District Grants.

· A total of $15,540 from the Infrastructure Planning Grant Program including:

· $5,540 for the Poplar Ridge Water System project.

· $10,000 for a regional water plan.

· $10,580 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 community is one of 174 communities to sign the Climate Action Charter committing to becoming carbon neutral by 2012.

The $875,516 in funding for the Town of Creston includes:

· $117,450 in federal and provincial funding from the LocalMotion program to install 900 metres of sidewalk on 16^th Avenue from Canyon Street, north to Scott Road and then on to the proposed Highway 3 bypass and Arrow Mountain. The new footpath will provide access to recreation on Arrow Mountain for 5,000 people.

· $50,000 from the Trees for Tomorrow program for the Downtown Creston Strategic Action Plan project, which will enhance the downtown core.

· $706,884 through the first instalment of the Province’s Strategic Community Investment Fund, a restructuring of provincial grant programs to give communities more funding sooner, including Small Community Grant funding.

· $1,182 from the Climate Action Revenue Incentive Program – equal to 100 per cent of the carbon tax as part of direct expenditures on fossil fuels. The community is one of 174 communities to sign the Climate Action Charter committing to becoming carbon neutral by 2012.

The $700,241 funding for the Village of Kaslo includes:

· $202,400 in federal and provincial funding from the Towns for Tomorrow program for energy improvements to the civic building, including the city hall and library. This will result in an efficiently heated building, with a reduction in green house gas emissions as well as operation and maintenance costs.

· $19,951 in federal and provincial funding from the LocalMotion program for the initial phase of the three-phrase Lakeview trail project, along the 400 block of Water Street.

· $470,062 from the Strategic Community Investment Fund, a restructuring of provincial grant programs to give communities more funding sooner, including Small Community Grants.

· $7,500 from the Infrastructure Planning Grant program to prepare an engineering report, in anticipation of implementing a development cost charge bylaw.

· $327 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 community is one of 174 communities to sign the Climate Action Charter committing to becoming carbon neutral by 2012.

The City of Nelson will receive over $1.46 million, which includes:

· $375,000 in federal and provincial funding from the Towns for Tomorrow program to replace several sections of deteriorated sanitary and storm sewer main lines that cross the Yellowhead Road & Bridge (YRB) Yard on Cedar Street.

· $241,750 in federal and provincial funding from the LocalMotion program for sidewalks and pathways throughout the city, improving safety and public access to public transit.

· $50,000 from the Trees for Tomorrow program for the Davies Street park environmental rehabilitation project.

· $795,758 in Strategic Community Investment Funds, a restructuring of provincial grant programs to give communities more funding sooner, including:

· $571,469 in Small Community Regional District Grants to support Nelson in providing basic services.

· $224,289 in Traffic Fine Revenue Sharing to help enhance policing and community-based safety programs, as announced March 23.

· $2,243 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 community is one of 174 communities to sign the Climate Action Charter committing to becoming carbon neutral by 2012.

The $901,638 in funding for the Village of Salmo includes:

· $361,140 in federal and provincial funding from the Towns for Tomorrow program to reconstruct selected municipal roads in the village to better withstand frost heave during winter.

· $533,257 in Strategic Community Investment Funds, a restructuring of provincial grant programs to give communities more funding sooner, including Small Community Grants.

· $7,000 from the Infrastructure Planning Grant Program to conduct a cost-benefit assessment regarding universal water metering.

· $241 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 community is one of 174 communities to sign the Climate Action Charter committing to becoming carbon neutral by 2012.

The Towns for Tomorrow and LocalMotion projects are 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.

LocalMotion is a four-year, $40-million program helping communities to build capital projects like bike paths, walkways and greenways, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and making communities more senior- and disability-friendly. The program provides local governments up to 50 per cent funding for approved projects up to a maximum contribution of $1 million. 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, the federal government is proudly supporting the LocalMotion program. For more information, visit www.localmotion.gov.bc.ca online.

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

The Strategic Community Investment Fund is a restructuring of provincial grant programs, so 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 Traffic Fine Revenue Sharing Program: Of the initial $133-million payment under the Strategic Community Investment Fund, $63 million will help municipalities enhance policing and community-based public safety programs. The Province has provided 100 per cent of net traffic fine revenues to local governments since 2004, amounting to an additional $206 million. Traffic fine revenue comes from fines on violation tickets, and the amount a municipality receives is based on its contribution to total municipal policing costs.

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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Media contact:	Public Affairs Bureau Ministry of Community Development 250 387-4089

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