Pembroke, Ontario – Cheryl Gallant, Member of Parliament for Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke, is pleased to announce a new, federal Community Infrastructure Improvement Fund in Ontario. Community and recreational facilities are now eligible for repairs and upgrades through the Fund.
“Local residents asked me to bring home new funding for community projects when our very successful “Building Canada” program was completed,” stated MP Gallant. “As a member of the Government caucus, I made sure our Ministers were aware that community infrastructure should be a funding priority. I am pleased our Finance Minister listened and acted on that request.”
The Community Infrastructure Improvement Fund will boost economic activity in communities and help support job creation in across Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke. By improving the quality of our community facilities, our government is contributing to building prosperous communities for Canadian families for years to come. The program in Ontario will be allocating $49.6 million over two years in predominantly rural southern and eastern Ontario.
“Community residents have shared a number of proposals with me. Renfrew has had plans for a new community pool. The folks around Dacre, in the municipality of Greater Madawaska, would like a new recreation hall, and the librarian in Killaloe, Nicole Zumach, has spoken of the desire for a new library facility,” observed Cheryl Gallant, MP. “If any municipality has any project shovel ready, I encourage them to submit an application as soon as possible.”
The Fund, will support, on a cost-shared basis, repairs and improvements to existing community infrastructure that is accessible for use by the public. Local, regional and First Nation governments, as well as not-for-profit organizations with projects that can be completed before March 31, 2014 are invited to apply for funding.
Eligible recipients may receive contributions of up to $1 million and must leverage a minimum of 50 per cent of funding from other sources. In Ontario, priority may be given to projects that require a federal contribution of just 33.3 per cent of total project costs.
Applications for projects in Ontario must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. EDT on August 24, 2012. For detailed program guidelines and information on how to apply, click here.