Municipal Affairs
April 30, 20082008-2011
Multi-Year Capital Works Funding Program Announced
Government has committed to continue
its Multi-Year Capital Works Program which will provide a provincial
funding investment of $112 million to 15 of the province�s largest
cities and towns. The program replaces the previous multi-year program
which expired on March 31, 2008.
"The Multi-Year Capital Works Program allows larger
municipalities to avail of three-year blocks of funding which supports
improved planning and scheduling of work of larger-scale projects," said
the Honourable Dave Denine, Minister of Municipal Affairs. "Funding will
also allow municipalities to set priorities with the security of knowing
the funding is in place."
Municipalities participating in this
program are Bay Roberts, Corner Brook, Conception Bay South, Gander,
Grand Falls-Windsor, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Holyrood, Labrador City,
Marystown, Mount Pearl, Paradise, Portugal Cove-St. Philips, Springdale,
St. John�s and Wabush.
The multi-year program was first introduced in 1999 to
fund larger-scale infrastructure initiatives in larger communities which
have the capacity to make multi-year commitments. Typically, the
majority of funding for municipal capital works programs has supported
road, and water and sewer infrastructure. Combined with municipal
funding, these 15 cities and towns will invest a total of approximately
$156 million in municipal infrastructure over the next three years.
The province has increased its capital budget
commitment for municipal infrastructure by $34.4 million annually, for a
total provincial commitment of $84.3 million per year. This will result
in a provincial investment in municipal infrastructure of $252.9 million
for 2008-2011, an annual increase of 69 per cent.
"Last week, we announced improvements to cost-share
ratios which will effectively provide more provincial funding to support
municipal infrastructure projects," added Minister Denine. "This effort
essentially provides better funding arrangements and improved financial
support to allow municipalities to strengthen services and improve
infrastructure throughout Newfoundland and Labrador."
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Media contact:
Heather MacLean
Director of Communications
Department of Municipal Affairs
709-729-1983, 690-2498
heathermaclean@gov.nl.ca
2008 04 30
10:40 a.m.