SMITHERS, B.C. – The Province of British Columbia is partnering with the Northwest BC Resource Benefits Alliance (RBA) to bring a new community funding agreement for critical infrastructure in northwestern B.C.
The agreement will support the renewal or replacement of capital assets and construction of infrastructure, such as roads, water, sewer and other amenities, needed to grow economic development and growth in the region, a release said.
“The funding provided through the RBA agreement will have significant impact in all of our communities and being able to count on funds year after year is a game-changer for long-term planning. Our partnership with the province ensures that the economic benefits of industrial development are shared equitably, leading to robust infrastructure and vibrant, sustainable communities for everyone in the region,” Smithers Mayor Gladys Atrill said in a statement.
B.C. allocated $250 million over five years through the 2024 budget to 21 local governments represented by the RBA and the agreement has been signed by all 21 of those governments, with funding allocations expected to be disbursed to RBA communities in 2024, the release said.
The RBA was formed in northwestern B.C. in 2014 as an association of local governments including member municipalities and the electoral areas of the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako, the Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine and the North Coast Regional District.
The agreement builds on a September 2022 memorandum of understanding between B.C. and the RBA that outlined common goals, sets out principles for future engagement and builds shared knowledge of the unique challenges faced in the region, the release said.
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