The Town of Stephenville will receive $82,655 for additional paving on Queen Street through the 2008-09 Municipal Capital Works (MCW) program.

"The Williams Government is committed to ensuring that municipalities have access to safe and reliable infrastructure," said the Honourable Dave Denine, Minister of Municipal Affairs. "I am pleased that through this funding, Stephenville residents will benefit from improvements to Queen Street, which is an important thoroughfare for the town."

The MCW 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.

Through the 2008-09 MCW program, $61.2 million will be spent on many 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.

Changes to the cost-share ratios for municipalities were announced in April, 2008. These 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.

"I�m very pleased to see the MCW program in action in my district, which is resulting in improved infrastructure for area residents," said the Honourable Joan Burke, MHA for St. George�s � Stephenville East. "The revised ratios for municipalities are also having a positive impact on assisting the Town of Stephenville with moving forward on initiatives such as the improvement to Queen Street."

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Media contact:

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