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Communities Embrace Green Cities Infrastructure

March 23, 2007

VICTORIA – More than 150 British Columbia communities are embracing the Province’s vision of greener, healthier and more active communities, applying for the $81 million available in new provincial Green Cities infrastructure funding, said Community Services Minister Ida Chong.

“The calibre of submissions from local governments is outstanding, be they plans for public gathering places, safer drinking water and cleaner air, or projects that provide more choices for British Columbians to be active,” said Chong. “Each of our three new programs – Towns for Tomorrow, LocalMotion and B.C. Spirit Squares – is focused on building vibrant, connected and sustainable communities, offering everyone even greater places to live and work.”

To date, over 400 project applications have been submitted for consideration for the three programs. Those applications submitted by the Feb. 16, 2007 deadline are currently being reviewed, with successful projects to be announced later this spring. Communities that did not submit proposals this round will have another opportunity to access Towns for Tomorrow and LocalMotion funding, as they are multi-year programs.

“I encourage communities that have not yet made an application, but are interested in undertaking new capital improvement, to consider doing so,” Chong added.

Towns for Tomorrow (www.townsfortomorrow.gov.bc.ca) is a three-year, $21-million program geared to providing infrastructure funding for B.C.’s smaller communities.

LocalMotion (www.localmotion.gov.bc.ca) is providing $40 million over four years for projects that improve physical fitness and safety, reduce air pollution, and meet the diverse needs of British Columbians, including supporting cycling and pedestrian pathways.

B.C. Spirit Squares (www.spiritsquares.gov.bc.ca) is a $20-million program aimed at creating or enhancing outdoor public celebration spaces.

The ministry also recently launched the Green City Awards Program (www.greencityawards.gov.bc.ca) which will provide $2.5 million over five years to municipalities and regional districts that encourage physical activity, energy conservation and environmental benefits.

Each program builds on B.C.’s Pacific Leadership Agenda and supports ActNow BC, a provincewide health promotion initiative focused on encouraging British Columbians to live healthier lives by being more physically active.
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