Local governments in the Comox Valley are sharing $464,000 in combined funding 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.
The Town of Comox has received a Small Community Grant worth $112,058 while Cumberland has been given $164,048. A $56,676 Regional District Grant has been delivered to the Comox Valley Regional District. Traffic fine revenue worth $33,494 has also been given to the Town of Comox while Courtenay has received $97,587.
“These grants give Comox Valley governments the flexibility to focus on and directly invest in local programs they see as priorities,” said Comox Valley Don McRae. “The grants also reflect a top priority for all residents – public safety. This is why it’s important to invest in local public safety projects that will help make our communities and neighbourhoods safer.”
Small Community Grants generally apply to municipalities with populations under 20,000 and are unconditional, along with Regional District Grants, meaning that the local governments can spend the funding according to their needs and priorities.
Traffic fine revenue comes from ticket fines and court-imposed fines on violation tickets. The program returns 100 per cent of net revenues from these fines tickets to communities with the funds to be spent on community safety and policing.
These are the first of two annual payments to the Town of Comox, Cumberland, Courtenay and the Comox Valley Regional District. A further payment of $75 million from the provincial government will be made to B.C. communities in June.
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.
(BC Government)
