July 22, 2010
FUNDS BOOST CRIME PREVENTION IN CHILLIWACK

CHILLIWACK – Residents of Chilliwack, Hope, Kent and Harrison Hot Springs will benefit from provincial funding that will be put toward public safety initiatives and important municipal services in the amount of $673,356. The funding is part of a $38.6 million instalment from the Strategic Community Investment Fund.

“Local governments know public safety issues need to be addressed and these dollars go where they are most needed,” says Chilliwack MLA John Les. “With this funding, crime prevention initiatives make our local communities safer.”

“This funding will be used by local groups to purchase important safety equipment,” says Chilliwack-Hope MLA Barry Penner. “Along with this funding comes employment opportunities and we know that both jobs and safety are good for our community.”

The Strategic Community Investment fund will allow Chilliwack to hire three additional RCMP officers and three RCMP support staff. Local employment was also given a boost in Harrison Hot Springs where public works staff and seasonal employees were hired for local infrastructure projects.

The Strategic Community Investment Fund is a restructuring of provincial grants, consisting of the Traffic Fine Revenue Sharing program and Small Community and Regional District Grants. This payment of $38.6 million to B.C.’s communities is the third instalment of a total $227 million provided to local governments since 2009; a first instalment of $133 million was paid to communities in March 2009 and a second instalment of $55.5 million was paid in September 2009.

Since 2001, the Province has given communities $413 million in traffic fine revenues and $363 million in Small Community and Regional District Grants.


BACKGROUNDER

Community                          Small                 Traffic Fine                Total Funding
                                             Community        Revenue                    for Community
                                             Grant                 Sharing

•    Chilliwack                          --                     $402,682                  $402,682
•    Hope                                 $138,216         $43,244                    $181,460
•    Harrison Hot Springs         $89,214            --                             $89,214
•    Kent                                   $144,250        $5,023                      $149,273


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