$915K INVESTMENT IN SUMMERLAND INFRASTRUCTURE, SERVICES

SUMMERLAND – The District of Summerland will benefit from close to $915,000 in federal and provincial funding announced today to help build a new police detachment building, invest in public safety initiatives and address other community priorities.“The Government of Canada is pleased to join with the Province in providing Towns for Tomorrow funding for Summerland, 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.”

Summerland will receive:· $375,000 in federal and provincial funding from the Towns for Tomorrow program to support the District of Summerland in the construction of a new building to house the RCMP detachment. $534,996 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: $458,805 in Small Community Grant funding to support Summerland in providing basic services. $76,191 from the Traffic Fine Revenue Sharing program to enhance policing and community-based safety programs. $4,861 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. Summerland is one of the more than 175 communities that have signed the Climate Action Charter committing to becoming carbon neutral by 2012.

“I am pleased to see the construction of a new Summerland RCMP detachment supported though the Towns for Tomorrow program,” said Okanagan-Westside MLA Rick Thorpe, on behalf of Community Development Minister Kevin Krueger. “This project not only will ensure proper facilities for policing in our community, but will also create local jobs.”

“The RCMP building is one of the goals for this term of council,” said Summerland Mayor Janice Perrino. “On behalf of council and all Summerland residents we are very pleased to accept this grant for the new building and look forward to using these funds to help us with part of the cost of installing energy efficient equipment in the building and reducing our carbon footprint.”