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Old Posted Jul 9, 2008, 1:18 AM
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Funding targets infrastructure needs
Small communities to submit proposals
The StarPhoenix
Published: Tuesday, July 08, 2008

Saskatchewan municipalities with outstanding infrastructure projects would be well advised to submit their wish lists.

During the next six years the federal and provincial governments will invest $189 million -- $94.5 million apiece -- to help communities under 100,000 people address priorities such as cleaner water and better waste management. The funding, which comes from the Building Canada Fund, was announced Monday at Innovation Place by Lynne Yelich, Conservative MP for Blackstrap.

With matching contributions from communities, the amount may rise to more than $283 million during the course of the program, she noted.

"I'm excited to be making this announcement today as this represents a significant step forward in helping communities . . . meet their unique challenges and in turn, making Saskatchewan's economy stronger while contributing to a cleaner environment," Yelich said.

"Renewing our province's infrastructure is a priority for this (provincial) government," added Bill Hutchinson, Saskatchewan's minister of municipal affairs. "By investing wisely in our communities and working together we can ensure the economic success we are seeing today in Saskatchewan is sustainable into the future."

Municipalities can submit applications beginning July 15, with the deadline for the first stage set for Aug. 29. Applications will be available at www.canada-saskbcf-cc.ca.

A total of $72 million will be allocated in the first stage, of which $12 million will be dedicated to northern Saskatchewan communities. Projects will be rated by a federal-provincial committee through a competitive process.

The Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association welcomed the news.

"We want to see shovels in the ground. We missed this year, but now we know that projects will start as soon as the ground thaws next year," SUMA president Allan Earle said in a press release.

"The challenging part will be to go through all of the applications. I imagine that we will see more requests for funding than there is money available in the first year. Thank goodness we have six years to get to everyone."

© The StarPhoenix (Saskatoon) 2008

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