The City of Kamloops is getting $15.6 million from the province for infrastructure projects.
It is part of the a $1 billion Growing Communities Fund announced by the province last month. Every community will get an initial $500,000 with money added on top of that based on population and per-capita population growth between 2016 and 2021.
The money is meant for projects including but not limited to supporting affordable housing, upgrading water management facilities, and building recreation centres.
“I know that our local governments are working hard to keep up with the growing demands of their communities. Through cross-government co-operation, we can address the unique needs in each community to ensure they can thrive into the future,” said Anne Kang, B.C.’s Minister of Municipal Affairs.
“These grants will support projects that each community needs the most, like new affordable housing and child care facilities, road improvements or recreation centres.”
A number of Kamloops-area communities are also getting money as listed below:
- Ashcroft – $1,076,000
- Barriere – $1,316,000
- Cache Creek – $958,000
- Chase – $1,547,000
- Clearwater – $1,521,000
- Clinton – $718,000
- Lillooet – $1,282,000
- Logan Lake – $1,538,000
- Lytton – $619,000
- Merritt – $2,891,000
- One Hundred Mile House – $1,265,000
- Salmon Arm – $6,089,000
- Sicamous – $1,731,000
- Valemount – $954,000
- Williams Lake – $3,728,000
The Thompson-Nicola Regional District is also getting $5.4 million while the Columbia Shuswap Regional District is getting $3.8 million.
The money is expected to flow to local governments by the end of this month. They will be required to report how they use the money in their annual audited financial statements.
“The transfer of these funds provides massive investments for every local government in the province,” UBCM president, Jen Ford, said.
“This new funding will allow communities to accelerate the replacement of aging systems, and expansion to current services to better meet the demands of growing populations. The approach of providing funding upfront will ensure that these funds are directed to the most urgent priorities identified in each community.”
