Local communities get funds to speed up delivery of homes

Spallumcheen is one of 38 B.C. municipalities that will be getting a grant from the province to create more efficient development approval processes.

The township will get $148,000 to help make the improvements, while Lake Country is getting $145,000.

The District of Peachland will receive $150,000 for a streamlining project to clarify and improve the development-application process. The project will involve co-ordinating with neighbouring communities to increase consistency across jurisdictions and facilitating collaboration across departments to reduce application delays.

The Local Government Development Approvals Program, administered through the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM), was created to help local governments implement best practices and develop innovative ways to support non-profit housing organizations, developers and other stakeholders to speed up the delivery of homes.

“We’re leaving no stone unturned in our work to deliver more homes for people, faster,” Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Housing, said. “The Local Government Development Approvals Program was created so that local governments can improve the internal processes and development approvals, so that we can speed up the delivery of homes for people living and working in B.C.”

The following communities have received grants through the Local Government Development Approvals Program:

* Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District
$150,000

* District of Barriere
$139,665

* City of Burnaby
$150,000

* Cariboo Regional District
$80,380

* City of Castlegar
$90,000

* Village of Chase
$90,000

* District of Clearwater
$141,752

* Town of Comox
$150,000

* City of Courtenay
$150,000

* Village of Cumberland
$122,900

* City of Dawson Creek
$85,000

* District of Fort St. James
$63,910

* Fraser Valley Regional District
$150,000

* City of Greenwood
$45,500

* Village of Harrison Hot Springs
$15,862.50

* Town of Houston
$89,998.40

* District of Hudson’s Hope
$44,000

* City of Kamloops
$150,000

* District of Kitimat
$81,000

* District of Lake Country
$145,000

* City of Maple Ridge
$149,984

* Village of McBride
$92,029.20

* City of Merritt
$150,000

* Mount Waddington Regional District
$150,000

* City of Nanaimo
$150,000

* City of New Westminster
$150,000

* Municipality of North Cowichan
$100,000

* District of North Vancouver
$150,000

* District of Oak Bay
$105,000

* District of Peachland
$150,000

* City of Port Alberni
$150,000

* City of Port Coquitlam
$150,000

* City of Port Moody
$75,000

* City of Prince Rupert
$56,800

* Township of Spallumcheen
$148,300

* District of Squamish
$150,000

* Sunshine Coast Regional District
$150,000

* Village of Telkwa
$150,000