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View Full Version : FCM's Green Municipal Fund announces over $ 4 million in Loans and Grants to Support Sustainable Inf


City of SJ News
02-20-2009, 03:00 PM
FCM’s Green Municipal Fund announces over $ 4 million in Loans and Grants to Support Sustainable Infrastructure Projects in Saint John

February 20, 2009, Saint John, NB – Jean Perrault, President of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) and Mayor of Sherbrooke, Que.and Rodney Weston Member of Parliament for Saint John, on behalf of the Honourable Lisa Raitt, Minister of Natural Resources, announced today four Green Municipal Fund (GMF) funding approvals for the City of Saint John.

Perrault and Weston were also joined by New Brunswick Minister of Local Government, Bernard LeBlanc, who recently concluded an agreement with the Green Municipal Fund that guarantees all New Brunswick municipalities have complete access to all GMF loans and grants.

“FCM’s Green Municipal Fund is an excellent way for all municipalities in New Brunswick to access low-interest loans and grants that will help them invest in their local sustainable infrastructure projects,” said FCM President Jean Perrault, Mayor of Sherbrooke, Qué. “We are pleased that by working closely with the Government of New Brunswick and the province’s municipal associations, we now have an agreement in place that guarantees all New Brunswick municipalities enjoy full access to FCM’s Green Municipal Fund for projects like the ones we are announcing today.”

“Our Government is assisting municipalities across the country in achieving their goal of a cleaner and healthier environment through the Green Municipal Fund,” said Mr. Weston. ”Today’s announcement is another example of how our Government – in partnership with the FCM – is helping the City of Saint John build a greener future for their citizens.”

“Our community recognizes it is the inherent responsibility of every individual and organization to embrace a shared commitment to environmental stewardship, and to live in balance with our natural resources,” said Saint John Mayor Ivan Court. “We are extremely pleased with the announcement today, as access to this funding will allow us to move closer to our Community Vision of leading the nation as an example of a sustainable community.”

The City of Saint John will use the GMF funding to complete the Canada Games Aquatic Centre Energy Efficiency retrofit ($1,795,048 in GMF funding), the Saint John Transit Commission New Construction LEED Silver Transit and Operation Centre ($1,569,122.00 in GMF funding), LEED Gold Police Headquarters ($844,762.00 in GMF funding) and the Saint John Integrated Community Sustainability Plan ($63,950.00 in GMF funding). A more detailed breakdown of each project is available in the attached backgrounder.
"Today's investment will help the City of Saint John to proceed with important green infrastructure projects and help us work toward our goal of self-sufficiency," said Bernard LeBlanc, Minister of Local Government. “By collaborating with organizations such as the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, we are assisting New Brunswick municipalities to become even more environmentally, socially and economically sustainable.”

The Green Municipal Fund is an endowment financed by the Government of Canada and managed by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. The Fund supports partnerships and leveraging of both public and private sector funding to reach higher standards of air, water and soil quality, and climate protection.

FCM has been the national voice of municipal governments since 1901. It fosters sustainable communities enjoying a high quality of life by promoting strong, effective, and accountable municipal government.

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