Fraser-Nicola communities will be receiving $1,311,751 as part of almost $40 million being invested into communities across B.C. to meet local needs including more policing, new equipment, increased community safety initiatives, infrastructure and service delivery priorities.
Ashcroft will receive a Small Community grant of $143,756; Cache Creek will receive $128,310; Clinton will receive $112,671; and Lytton will receive $100,746.
Lillooet will receive a Small Community grant of $151,550; and Logan Lake will receive $125,534.
The Thompson-Nicola Regional District will receive a Regional District grant of $49,504.
“The distribution of these grants will be made entirely by local authorities based on their priorities and planned projects,” Fraser-Nicola MLA Jackie Tegart said. “They also reduce the burden on taxpayers, which is especially important in communities with a small tax base.”
These are the first of two annual payments. A further payment of $75 million will be made in June 2015.
The Small Community Grant is an unconditional grant to municipalities to assist them to provide basic services. Grant amounts are based on a formula that factors in a base amount, population and assessment values. These grants generally apply to municipalities with populations up to 19,000.
Since 2009, the Small Community, Regional District and Traffic Fine Revenue Sharing Grants have provided more than $718 million in funding to support B.C. communities enabling them to invest money in projects that are identified as priorities at the local level.