The Department of Municipal Affairs has put out a call
to municipalities to submit applications for a new 2008-11 Multi-Year
Capital Works Program. The new Multi-Year Program provides opportunity
for municipalities with a population in excess of 2,000 to apply for
funding in support of larger-scale, multi-year capital works projects.
The Honourable Dave Denine, Minister of Municipal Affairs, notes that
the program is based on the need to support a longer term commitment to
municipalities for major infrastructure projects.
"The 2005-2008 program is concluding, and this call
for applications is the initial step for municipalities to identify
priority multi-year projects, and submit the necessary information to
begin the process of evaluating projects for potential funding," said
Minister Denine. "The Multi-Year Program provides opportunity for
municipalities to develop projects which meet their specific needs, and
supports planning to take advantage of quality and efficiencies during
the prime construction season."
The Multi-Year Capital Works Program is a 50/50
provincial/municipal cost-sharing arrangement, supporting larger-scale
infrastructure projects in municipalities that have the capacity to make
a multi-year commitment. Projects may include initiatives to improve
water and sewer, roads, recreation, fire equipment and municipal
building infrastructure.
Wayne Ruth, president of Municipalities Newfoundland
and Labrador, is pleased with the commitment to introduce a new program
which has provided municipalities with the opportunity to make strategic
investments in infrastructure.
"This announcement will be welcomed by all
municipalities as it allows them to incorporate the expected
expenditures in their budgets at a reasonable time frame, and will also
provide councils and contractors the opportunity to take full advantage
of our construction season," said Mr. Ruth.
Through the 2005-08 program, the Provincial Government
and municipalities invested approximately $37 million in municipal
infrastructure. The deadline for applications for the 2008-11 program is
November 30, 2007. The program stipulates that projects must be
completed within three years, by December 2010.
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Media contact:
Heather MacLean
Director of Communications
Department of Municipal Affairs
709-729-1983, 690-2498
heathermaclean@gov.nl.ca
2007 11 09 12:20 p.m.
