LAC LA BICHE - Provincial funding continues to land in Lac La Biche County, with MLA Laila Goodridge announcing last week that $1.145 million from the Municial Stimulus Prgram will go towards jobs and projects in the communty over the next fiscal year.
The funding is part of $500 million in funding for Alberta's municipalities as part of the province's Alberta Recovery Plan. The plan is needed, says the Fort McMurray-Lac La Biche MLA, likening the current the economic climate to the global Great Depression from 90 years ago.
“Local investment into our communities is so important to create jobs during the worst economic recession Alberta has seen since the 1930s," she said. "Alberta’s Recovery Plan is helping municipalities like Lac La Biche County get residents back to work."
The additional funds from Lac La Biche County follow recent announcements of funding for paving projects in Plamondon and water and sewer lift station projects. Those two projects in total created provincial funding injections of more than $2 million.
The province also recently announced it was partnering with federal stimulus grants to help build the $15 million aquatic centre at Lac La Biche's Bold Center.
Lac La Biche County Mayor Omer Moghrabi is pleased with the increases in funding during challenging times for his community and all Albertans.
“Lac La Biche County is grateful to the Government of Alberta for providing Municipal Stimulus Program funding," he said. "Keeping Albertans working and supporting municipalities’ vital infrastructure projects is an ideal way to help our province weather these difficult economic times.”
The $500 million in MSP funding has been added to $600,000 in another funding program called the Safe Restart Agreement for a $1.1 billion comittment to Alberta's municipalities, says Goodridge, adding that $13.2 million has been allocated to the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo.
"I am grateful to Alberta’s government for the investment in my riding.," she said.
Across the Lakeland region, the MSP funding plan has recently added $85,000 to the Buffalo Lake Metis Settlement, $121,000 to the Kikino Metis Settlement, $769,000 to the County of St. Paul, $1.5 million to the MD of Bonnyville, $58,000 to Glendon, $109,000 in Boyle, $708,000 to the Town of St. Paul, $763,000 to the Town of Bonnyville, and $1.78 million to the City of Cold Lake.
Provincial projects attached to the new stimulus funding suggests 2500 jobs will be created province-wide from the $500 million investment.
