The Town of Comox and the City of Courtenay are receiving funding support through the Strategic Priorities Fund.
Comox announced it will receive $5 million through the fund’s community stream, which supports infrastructure projects that may be beyond the financial capacity of a single local government.
Mayor Nicole Minions said the funding will help upgrade the Comox Fire Rescue station to support emergency services in the growing community.
“By investing in this upgrade now, we are strengthening emergency preparedness, supporting firefighter health and safety and help manage our long-term infrastructure costs,”
The fire hall has been under construction since May and will serve as the town’s emergency operations centre during emergencies once upgrades are complete.
Courtenay is receiving $382,000 through the same funding stream to support the development of a recreation facilities strategic plan.
Susie Saunders, director of recreation, culture and community services, said the plan will help ensure recreation facilities and amenities meet current and future needs.
“By understanding both current needs and future growth, we can make informed decisions that support healthy and active communities now and in the future.”
The plan will assess existing facilities and identify priorities for repairs, upgrades, replacement and expansion while considering factors such as population growth, recreation trends and emerging community needs.
The funding is part of more than $152 million announced by the federal and provincial governments, along with the Union of B.C. Municipalities, for 54 community infrastructure and capacity-building projects.
