Ryan Willman
Arrow Lakes News
In January 2015 the Village of Nakusp staff submitted an application for grant money through the New Building Canada program. The application was one of 21 other applications that were submitted in the Kootenay- Columbia region; only seven applications were approved.
The New Building Canada Fund is an Infrastructure Canada funding project created by the government of Canada under the overall $53 billion New Building Canada Plan (NBCP). The government has allocated $14 billion to support projects of national, regional and local significance that will promote economic growth, job creation and productivity. Working with provinces, territories, municipalities and the private sector, the funding project aims to encourage investments in infrastructure that are economically and environmentally focused. Communities with fewer than 100, 000 residents can apply for a targeted branch of funding through the Small Communities Fund, which specifically requires proposed projects to meet three criteria; economic growth, clean environment and stronger communities.
On July 30, Kootenay-Columbia MP, David Wilks, announced the success of the Nakusp application during an impromptu gathering of the mayor, council and residents.
“I was quite happy with the number of projects that were approved in the Kootenay-Columbia,” Wilks commented. “Our riding submitted the most and it bodes well for your staff who have obviously written a very good grant application because there was some very good competition out there.”
The money will be used to fund improvements to the Nakusp water distribution system by installing a pressure reducing station and a flow meter for the Sleepy Hollow residential area. During Wilks’ announcement, he explained the project funding will be broken down into thirds, which each level of government (federal, provincial and municipal) contributing around $86,666.
Mayor Karen Hamling thanked David Wilks and the government for investing in Nakusp’s water infrastructure and acknowledged that, “Without programs like New Buildings Canada it would be difficult for small communities like Nakusp to undertake this type of project. We really do appreciate it.”
Hamling also went on to explain, “The installation of the pressure reducing station and water mains will improve the efficiency and reliability of the water distribution system and will reduce the number of water main breaks. It will also assist the village with its water conservation efforts by reducing the substantial water losses incurred resulting when there is a water main break.”
Wilks’ concluded, “I think that this project, when completed, will be a great asset to the village and will maintain consistent and reliable water pressure in the potable water main servicing residents in the Sleepy Hollow area.”