There was no money awarded last week by the government for Princeton’s indoor aquatic center proposal, but the explanation is pretty simple.
Princeton didn’t apply for dollars under the federal Gas Tax Fund.
In total $193 million for local governments was announced to support 112 infrastructure projects in British Columbia.
While many of the projects cover water and sewer upgrades, there were also several grants made for pools.
Port Hardy will receive $6 million to replace a multiplex swimming pool, and the District of North Cowichan will get $2.37 million for an aquatic centre expansion project.
Gas Tax funding is not what Princeton needs for its proposed $27 million indoor pool, health and wellness centre, according to CAO Cheryl Martens.
“There are many different grants available. Sometimes these grants can be stacked and others will not allow you to receive funding from other grants simultaneously,” said Martens.
“The town did not apply for this intake of Gas Tax because they secure funding from the Clear Water and Waste Water Fund. This grant cannot be stacked.”
The town has stated it needs $11 million from each the provincial and the federal governments to move ahead with the project.
“There is some anticipation that the federal and provincial governments will be announcing a substantial grant fund before the end of April,” said Martens.
Under the Gas Tax Fund the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen was awarded $2 million for solids processing at the Okanagan Falls Waste Water treatment plant, and $225,000 for asset management capacity building.