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NEWS RELEASE
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For Immediate Release June 10, 2011 |
Ministry of Community, Sport and
Cultural Development
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Province helps small communities build for the future
VICTORIA – The Province of British Columbia is helping small, rural communities address infrastructure priorities with an investment of $17.2 million through the Towns for Tomorrow program, announced Ida Chong, Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development, and Blair Lekstrom, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure.
The Province has approved 47 new Towns for Tomorrow projects. With this final round of grants, the program has now funded 201 infrastructure projects in communities throughout British Columbia.
Communities with a population under 5,000 are receiving up to 80 per cent provincial funding, to a maximum contribution of $400,000 for approved projects. Communities with populations from 5,000 to 15,000 are getting up to 75 per cent, to a maximum provincial contribution of $375,000.
Towns for Tomorrow funding is intended to support the development or improvement of local infrastructure. Eligible projects include those related to water quality, wastewater, environmental energy improvements, local roads, recreation, culture, tourism, public transit, protective and emergency services infrastructure and community development.
Quotes:
Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development Ida Chong –
“It is often challenging for smaller communities to balance their infrastructure needs with the cost of providing important community services like drinking water, wastewater management and recreation. Towns for Tomorrow has had a broad-reaching impact in helping our smaller local governments to meet these challenges by providing funding for infrastructure and supporting sustainable service delivery. The Province remains committed to helping these communities access the resources they need to be economically resilient and family-friendly.”
Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Blair Lekstrom –
“Community infrastructure is essential to the development of strong communities. Towns for Tomorrow helps smaller B.C communities build and improve neighbourhood parks, recreation centres and local water systems, all of which contribute to the well-being of families. I’m proud to be part of a government that continues to work with local communities to ensure that the people we represent are the beneficiaries of vital funding such as this.”
Quick Facts:
· Towns for Tomorrow was initially established in 2007 as a three-year, $21-million program for communities with populations up to 5,000.
· In 2008, the program was expanded from three to five years, and the parameters were changed to include regional districts and communities of 5,000 to 15,000 residents.
· This program has provided close to $70 million to smaller communities throughout B.C.
Learn More:
For more information on the Towns for Tomorrow program, go to: http://www.townsfortomorrow.gov.bc.ca/
For a listing of the 47 new Towns for Tomorrow projects, go to: http://www.newsroom.gov.bc.ca/downloads/BG_Towns_for_Tomorrow_June2011.pdf
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Contact:
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Jeff Rud Communications Director Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development 250 208-4028
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Connect with the Province of B.C. at: www.gov.bc.ca/connect
