The Town of St. George�s will receive $45,200 for work on Steel Mountain Road and the Town of Stephenville Crossing will receive $135,000 for well work, through the 2008-09 Municipal Capital Works (MCW) program.

"The Provincial Government recognizes that communities require efficient infrastructure," said the Honourable Dave Denine, Minister of Municipal Affairs. "Our goal remains to help municipalities improve services that in turn, improve the quality of life for their residents."

The Municipal Capital Works program fosters the development of cost-shared projects in a wide range of municipal infrastructure, including water and waste-water treatment, roads, recreational facilities and fire equipment.

The MCW program has been significantly improved by recently announced revised cost-share ratios for municipalities. These new changes state that towns with populations under 3,000 now have to contribute only 10 per cent toward the cost of capital infrastructure. Towns with populations between 3,000 and 7,000 contribute 20 per cent and the largest cities and towns with populations over 7,000 contribute 30 per cent.

Minister Denine recently announced that through the 2008-09 MCW program, $61.2 million will be spent on infrastructure improvement projects province-wide. Under the program, the Provincial Government will contribute $32.4 million; the Federal Government will contribute $12 million and the municipalities will contribute $14.1 million. Towns will also utilize the Federal GST rebate as part of the capital cost.

"I am pleased that this funding will enable important work on Steel Mountain Road to begin," said the Honourable Joan Burke, MHA, St. George�s-Stephenville East. "I am also pleased with the improved cost-share ratios as they positively impact smaller communities and allow them to move forward with planned infrastructure initiatives."

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Media contact:
Jennifer Collingwood
Director of Communications
Department of Municipal Affairs
709-729-1983, 690-2498
JenniferCollingwood@gov.nl.ca