The City of Yorkton has received word it will receive a significant grant through the New Building Canada Fund (NBCF).
“Infrastructure Canada created a funding program known as the New Building Canada Fund (NBCF) to help fund projects of national, regional and local significance that promotes economic growth, job creation and productivity,” explained Michael Buchholzer Director of Environmental Services and Capital Projects, with the City at the regular meeting of Yorkton Council Monday.
“The objective of this program is to support infrastructure projects related to economic growth, a clean environment and stronger communities. This program supplies funding for up to two-thirds of the eligible costs with the remaining one-third to be committed by the municipality.”
In January of 2017, Council supported the application for the PTIC Grant titled “North Sewer System Upgrades.”
“This project provides for the construction of a new sanitary trunk sewer main and upgrade to the north drainage channel that includes replacing the existing culverts with a concrete bridge,” said Buchholzer.
The project selection was based on the flood mitigation report that identified the storm water drainage ditch, located from York Road to Highway 9, requiring upgrading.
“The drainage culverts under Highway 9 are collapsing and the 1.7 kilometer long, 100 year-old, 1 meter diameter sanitary outfall pipe requires replacement,” explained Buchholzer.
“The drainage channel and the sanitary outfall are a major component of the city’s infrastructure. The channel diverts the majority of the City’s storm water to Yorkton Creek and the sanitary outfall is the only connecting pipeline from the City to the wastewater treatment plant.”
In terms of funding, the new money will help the City avoid needing to borrow money for the project.
“The total cost of the project is estimated at $11,130,000 which was initially approved in the 2016 Capital Budget. At that time a portion of the funds was to come from waterworks utility reserves and approximately $8,700,000 would need to be borrowed,” said Buchholzer.
“We are pleased to advise that the City’s grant application was approved for $3,710,000 of federal funding.”
Now it’s a case of paperwork.
“Upon signing the federal agreement, the province will submit a separate agreement for their portion of the grant,” said Buchholzer.
Buchholzer said the City expects the province will match the federal dollars.
“Fortunately with $3,710,000 in federal and $3,710,000 in provincial grants, the City will not need to borrow funds to complete this project. The tender process will commence in February with construction starting in early summer,” he said.
