DIDSBURY – The municipality will be receiving $2.5 million in new provincial funding for the new reservoir project to address current capacity and firefighting deficiencies within the town’s existing water system, officials said.
“Being awarded the grant is great news for Didsbury,” mayor Rhonda Hunter told the Albertan.
“There is a lot of competition for this grant, and we are fortunate and thankful to be selected as one of the recipients,” said Hunter.
The $2.5-million grant will “contribute significantly” to the $5.7-million cost of the East Didsbury reservoir project, which is currently being designed and is projected to have construction begin early next year, she said.
“With this grant, we now have a clear path forward on creating a funding model for the project that will have less impact on town reserves and other grants,” she said.
The new funding is part of $236 million in grants recently announced to support more than 100 local transportation and water infrastructure projects in small communities.
The funding will be distributed through the strategic transportation infrastructure program (STIP), the Alberta municipal water/wastewater partnership and the Water for Life program.
“These provincial grants will help local communities repair aging infrastructure and build capacity for future population and economic growth,” said Devin Dreeshen, minister of transportation and economic corridors as well as Innisfail-Sylvan Lake MLA.
The new Didsbury reservoir will be constructed east of the train tracks in the town’s downtown.
Mayor Hunter commended area MLA Nathan Cooper and minister Dreeshen for their support and endorsement of the grant application.
“We look forward to this project getting started that will add to the infrastructure that serves our residents and businesses,” she said.
