Todd Reade's Blog

Applications now available online!

Local hockey rinks, swimming pools, and other community sites throughout the West will be eligible to receive funding for upgrades, renovations, and fix-ups thanks to the new Recreational Infrastructure Canada Program (RInC) in Canada’s Economic Action Plan. Funding for the RInC program is now available through Western Economic Diversification Canada.

This two-year national initiative is expected to provide a timely, targeted, and temporary stimulus to the Canadian economy, while ensuring that local families and communities can continue to count on their local fields, arenas and pools for decades to come.

The federal government will fund up to 33 percent of eligible costs. The remaining funding will need to be sourced from provincial or municipal governments, community organizations or the private sector. Projects must begin and materially conclude construction before March 31, 2011. The maximum federal contribution to any one project under this program will be $1 million.

Who is eligible for funding?
• Municipal and local governments, agencies, and provincial entities that provide municipal-type services to communities;
• Not-for-profit entity;
• First Nation governments, Band or Tribal Councils, or their legally-designated representatives.
What kinds of projects are eligible for funding?
• Arenas
• Gymnasia
• Swimming pools
• Sports fields
• Tennis, basketball, volleyball or other sport-specific courts;
• Parks, fitness trails, and bike paths;
• Other multi-purpose facilities that have physical recreation activity as the primary rationale.
Eligible projects will also:
• Normally be for the rehabilitation or repair of existing infrastructure, including new construction that is either adding to or replacing existing recreational infrastructure assets or capacity;
• Begin and materially conclude construction before March 31, 2011;
• Not have otherwise occurred, as proposed, without support from the RInC program, i.e. be incremental; and
• On exception basis, be for the construction of a completely new infrastructure asset.
Program and application details may be obtained at www.wd-deo.gc.ca. Applications are now being accepted and project proposals are due by May 29, 2009 (projects needing more time to develop have until June 19, 2009).

Consistent with the Government of Canada’s commitment to taking swift action to stimulate the Canadian economy, Western Economic Diversification has pledged to review and respond to applications as quickly as possible.

For additional information, contact:

Phone: 780-495-4164
Toll-Free Number:1-888-338-WEST (9378)
Email: alberta.rinc-ilc@wd-deo.gc.ca
Website: www.wd-deo.gc.ca