Nine Vancouver Island municipalities are among 38 towns and cities that will soon receive provincial grants designed to help them speed up the construction of new homes.
The goal of the grants, which range between $100,000 and $150,000, is to help communities improve development approval processes.
“We’re leaving no stone unturned in our work to deliver more homes for people, faster,” said Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon.
The Local Government Development Approvals Program, administered through the Union of British Columbia Municipalities, was created to help local governments implement best practices and develop ways to support non-profit housing organizations, developers and other stakeholders to speed up the delivery of homes.
The Regional District of Mount Waddington, for example, will get $150,000 to develop a pre-application process so applicants are aware of requirements needed for their applications to reduce delays.
Also receiving $150,000 are Nanaimo, Port Alberni, Courtenay, the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District and Comox. Cumberland will receive $122,900, Oak Bay will get $105,000 and North Cowichan will get $100,000.
The province has set aside $4.4 million this year for the program, open to all municipalities, regional districts and the Islands Trust.
