REGIONAL DISTRICTS ELIGIBLE FOR INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING

VICTORIA – Regional districts are encouraged to apply for infrastructure funding under the expanded $71-million Towns for Tomorrow program, said Community Development Minister Blair Lekstrom. “The new Towns for Tomorrow program is helping to bridge the rural-urban divide by providing much-needed support to smaller communities with limited resources across British Columbia,” said Lekstrom. “Many electoral area directors have told me that they see Towns for Tomorrow as a great program, but they believe that unincorporated areas outside of municipalities should also be eligible to participate in this program. Regional districts can now make an application for a project within their jurisdiction for an electoral area or unincorporated community with up to 15,000 residents, allowing them to take advantage of this vital funding opportunity along with other small municipalities.”

Unlike traditional infrastructure programs, Towns for Tomorrow provides between 75 and 80 per cent of project costs, with a maximum provincial contribution of $400,000 for communities with fewer than 5,000 people and $375,000 for communities of 5,000 to 15,000. “The expanded funding for this program was good news at the UBCM convention,” said UBCM president Robert Hobson. “Now that electoral areas and unincorporated communities are also eligible to receive funding, the program has become even better.” Towns for Tomorrow funding is intended to support the development or improvement of local infrastructure. Eligible projects include those related to water quality, public transit, wastewater, environmental energy improvements, local roads, recreation, culture, tourism, protective and emergency services infrastructure and community development. Premier Gordon Campbell announced the expansion of Towns for Tomorrow at the 2008 UBCM annual convention, allocating a further $50 million to the program and extending it from three to five years. The new program was launched on Oct. 10 to meet the needs of more communities, including regional districts and communities of 5,000 to 15,000 residents.

In an effort to make it easier for communities to access funding, the application form is now two pages long. All applicants will be notified of the outcome within 60 days of the Jan. 16, 2009 submission deadline. Local governments, including regional districts, may submit one application per submission deadline.For more information and to apply for funding, go to www.townsfortomorrow.gov.bc.ca.