NEARLY $1 MILLION INVESTMENT SUPPORTS POUCE COUPE

POUCE COUPE – The Village of Pouce Coupe will benefit from nearly $1 million in federal and provincial funding announced today to help build local infrastructure and provide basic services to local residents.

“The Government of Canada is pleased to join with the Province in providing Towns for Tomorrow funding for Pouce Coupe, which helps to both build local infrastructure and create jobs,” said Hon. Jay Hill, MP for Prince George-Peace River. “This is another example of how the federal government is committed to strengthening B.C.’s economy and keeping British Columbians working.”

“These funding announcements are a great step forward for the Village of Pouce Coupe and for the province as a whole,” said Blair Lekstrom, MLA for Peace River South on behalf of Community Development Minister Kevin Krueger. “It’s great to see all levels of government working together to invest in our communities, with funding coming from both the provincial and federal governments.”

Pouce Coupe will receive:

· $400,000 in federal and provincial Towns for Tomorrow for the Pouce Coupe Fire Hall project. This project will replace the old fire hall, supporting the on-going emergency services program and reducing operation and maintenance costs as well as greenhouse gas emissions.

· $566,860 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 sooner.

“These investments are great news for Pouce Coupe,” said Mayor Lyman Clark. “With the provincial and federal government backing us, we have a plan for moving our community ahead into the future, with even more strength and more opportunities for our residents than ever before.”

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.

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.

The Small Community and Regional District Grant component of the Strategic Community Investment Fund is part of the Province's continuing commitment to help provide services in areas with smaller tax bases. These grants account for $70 million of the initial $133-million payment under the Strategic Community Investment Fund. 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 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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