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Canada’s Economic Action Plan initiative improves local recreational facilities - Recreational Infrastructure Canada Program accessible to Alberta communities
Local hockey rinks, swimming pools, and other community sites throughout the West will be eligible to receive funding for upgrades, renovations, and fix-ups thanks to the new Recreational Infrastructure Canada Program (RInC) in Canada’s Economic Action Plan. Funding for the RInC program is now available through Western Economic Diversification Canada.
“For decades, community centres across Western Canada have been a gathering place for families, friends, and neighbours,
” said the Honourable Lynne Yelich, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification. “The RInC program will stimulate benefits to the economy, create jobs and contribute to the health and quality of life in our local communities.
”
This two-year national initiative is expected to provide a timely, targeted, and temporary stimulus to the Canadian economy, while ensuring that local families and communities can continue to count on their local fields, arenas and pools for decades to come.
“Recreation facilities contribute to strong, healthy communities across Alberta and provide long-lasting economic benefits,
” said the Honourable Jim Prentice, Minister of the Environment. “Our Government’s investments through the RInC initiative will help create immediate jobs and enable communities to emerge through these challenging economic times with more modern infrastructure.
”
“The renewal of public infrastructure in our smaller and rural communities is an important part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan to stimulate growth and promote recovery,
” said the Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Labour. “The RInC initiative demonstrates our commitment to creating new opportunities and supporting a high quality of life for Albertans and all Canadians.
”
The federal government will fund up to 33 percent of eligible costs. The remaining funding will need to be sourced from provincial or municipal governments, community organizations or the private sector. Projects must begin and materially conclude construction before March 31, 2011. The maximum federal contribution to any one project under this program will be $1 million.
Program and application details may be obtained at www.wd-deo.gc.ca/. Project proposals are due by May 29, 2009 and projects needing more time to develop have until June 19, 2009.
For media relations enquiries, contact:
Lisa Hutniak
Minister's Office
Western Economic Diversification
Lisa.Hutniak@wd-deo.gc.ca
For program related enquiries:
WD Toll-Free Number:1-888-338-WEST (9378)
Teletypewriter (TTY): 1-877-303-3388
WD Website: www.wd-deo.gc.ca.
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Backgrounder
Recreational Infrastructure Canada Program
The Recreational Infrastructure Canada (RInC) program provides $500 million nationally for projects to rehabilitate recreational facilities across Canada that can be completed by March 31, 2011.
Through RInC, the Government of Canada has committed to supporting upgrades and repairs to existing recreational assets.
The program is designed to provide a timely, targeted stimulus to the economy, and to help mitigate the impacts of the global economic recession by increasing the total amount of construction activity related to recreational infrastructure. Through the rehabilitation of recreational infrastructure, this program also encourages participation in physical activity and community building.
The initial RInC allocation for Western Canada, to be delivered by Western Economic Diversification Canada, is almost $54 million. The remaining funding, over the next two years, will be allocated based on the number of applications submitted to the Department. Projects will be selected on the basis of merit and construction readiness.
The federal government will fund up to 33 per cent of eligible costs. The remaining funding will need to be sourced from provincial or municipal governments, community organizations, or the private sector. The maximum federal contribution to any one project under this program will be $1 million.
Program Eligibility
Eligible applicants:
- Municipal and local governments, agencies, and provincial entities that provide municipal-type services to communities;
- Not-for-profit entity;
- First Nation governments, Band or Tribal Councils, or their legally-designated representatives.
Eligible Projects:
- Arenas
- Gymnasia
- Swimming pools
- Sports fields
- Tennis, basketball, volleyball or other sport-specific courts;
- Parks, fitness trails, and bike paths;
- Other multi-purpose facilities that have physical recreation activity as the primary rationale.
Eligible projects must also:
- Fall under one of the above eligible categories;
- Normally be for the rehabilitation or repair of existing infrastructure, including new construction that is either adding to or replacing existing recreational infrastructure assets or capacity;
- Begin and materially conclude construction before March 31, 2011; and,
- Not have otherwise occurred, as proposed, without support from the RInC program, i.e. be incremental.
Application
Projects must meet the mandatory requirements as outlined in program eligibility section. Furthermore, projects will be recommended and approved on the basis of merit. The application form is available online at http://www.wd-deo.gc.ca/. Project proposals are due by May 29, 2009 and projects needing more time to develop have until June 19, 2009.
Project Selection
In addition to meeting the eligibility requirements described above, projects will be assessed on:
- construction-readiness;
- planned completion date;
- incrementality; and,
- the extent to which other funding is leveraged.
Depending on the volume of applications received, other criteria may be applied.
For more information, please contact:
WD Toll-Free Number: 1-888-338-WEST (9378)
Teletypewriter (TTY): 1-877-303-3388
Website: http://www.wd-deo.gc.ca/
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