Ottawa has announced more than $5.7 million for 14 projects in southwestern New Brunswick.
The money is from the Canada Community-Building Fund, formerly known as the Gas Tax Fund.
More than $430,000 has been awarded to two all-terrain vehicle clubs for upgrades to local trails.
Slo-Poke ATV Club is receiving $410,000 for the construction of a new bridge and trail access, while the River Valley ATV Club is getting $20,000 to install four cross culverts under an existing trail.
Jacques Poirier, general manager of QuadNB, says they are very pleased to receive the funding.
“For us, it’s a big plus to help develop our trail system to give better, safe riding opportunities for our members,” Poirier said following Monday’s announcement in Grand Bay-Westfield.
Poirier said the club’s ultimate goal is to have a network of provincial trails connecting the province’s ATV clubs.
Other projects include:
- $967,000 for the St. John River Society to upgrade 13 heritage steamboat wharves in communities along the lower Saint John River.
- $600,000 to upgrade an existing culbert on Sorrell Ridge Road to prevent future damage from heavy rains and flooding events.
- $590,000 to construct a summer camp site at Camp Tippy Canoe in North Lake.
- $420,000 to elevate a section of Sunset Valley Road near Grand Bay-Westfield to prevent damage from heavy rains and flooding.
- $360,000 for a revitalization project at Canal Beach in St. George, which includes a new building, a canteen and accessible washrooms and shower.
- $214,000 for infrastructure upgrades to reinstate North Lake Provincial Park.
- $165,000 to improve the building heating system at Van Horne Estate on Ministers Island.
Kings Centre MLA Bill Oliver said each of the projects — big or small — makes our province a better place to live.
“It is truly gratifying to see these projects go from idea to funding to a completed project,” said Oliver.
The Canada Community-Building Fund is a permanent source of federal funding for infrastructure investments. While 80 per cent of funding is allocated to local governments, 20 per cent is available for projects benefitting the residents of local service districts.
The Department of Environment and Local Government said it gave preference to the following types of applications:
- improvements to existing infrastructure;
- low-cost recreation, sport, culture and tourism projects with regional benefits;
- projects that meet provincial priorities, such as energizing the private sector, creating vibrant and sustainable communities, and the environment;
- projects receiving additional financial support such as from donations, fundraising efforts, local tax contributions, or other funding programs; and
- projects benefiting multiple stakeholders.
The federal government is providing $233.6 million to New Brunswick communities over a five-year period between 2019 and 2023, including $47.1 million during each of the 2021-22 and 2022-23 fiscal years.
You can find a full list of the approved projects by clicking here.
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