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.

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

Contact:

Jeff Rud
Communications Director
Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development
250 208-4028