Just last week, Williams Lake received a funding boost of $329,027 thanks to a variety of community investment grants.
These included a traffic-fine revenue grant in the amount of $99,494, a small community grant worth $217,195, and a return from the Climate Action Revenue Incentive program brought $12,338 back to Williams Lake. The Cariboo Regional District also received $87,377 to be used across the district.
Province-wide, the government granted more than $60 million to help communities fund public safety initiatives and important municipal services.
The dollars collected through the small community and traffic-fine programs will go towards things like local infrastructure projects or increasing community safety through various crime prevention programs.
Being a green community has also paid off for Williams Lake as the dollars returned through the Climate Action Revenue Incentive program are a result of the carbon taxes that the City paid in 2010.
Another announcement that was recently made is the LiveSmart BC Efficiency Incentive Program, where homeowners can receive rebates for energy-saving improvements and equipment.
This incentive program is an easy way to save money on home energy heating costs, while also increasing the value of your home.
This type of incentive program is an example of the steps this government is taking to stimulate local economies.
When people decide to renovate their houses into more energy efficient homes they most likely will employ local contractors.
The money that gets spent on these projects keeps the contractors and suppliers working, and that money also goes around in the community.
When all is said and done, the B.C. government is working to create jobs, provide tax cuts for families and create a strong and thriving economy.
For more information about the LiveSmart BC Efficiency program, visit www.livesmartbc.ca/rebates.
Donna Barnett is the Liberal MLA for Cariboo-Chilcotin.