Province helps Nelson, Castlegar build for the future
By Nelson Daily Staff
Two new provincial government grants will inject $750,000 into the infrastructure of Nelson and Castlegar this year as the Towns for Tomorrow grant recipients were revealed Friday.
Nelson will receive $375,000 for its Mountain Station Reservoir disinfection upgrade project, constructing a building to house UV disinfection equipment.
This provides an added level of security in the city’s potable water system — currently under a water quality advisory from the Interior Health Authority.
A separate area in the new structure will house equipment designed to produce hypochlorite rather than the current use of chlorine gas. Construction is scheduled for the fall.
In Castlegar, the City will receive $375,000 for a Castlegar Airport Servicing Strategy, one which will surely improve service for travelers from across the West Kootenay at the regional airport.
The Towns for Tomorrow program benefits small, rural communities in addressing infrastructure priorities. In all, the Province is investing $17.2 million through the program.
The Province approved 47 new Towns for Tomorrow projects, including Nelson and Castlegar. 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.
