2012-11-14 19:04:56 -

SURREY, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwire) -- 11/14/12 -- Today, Russ Hiebert, Member of Parliament for South Surrey-White Rock-Cloverdale, on behalf of the Honourable Lynne Yelich, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification, announced federal funding for the City of Surrey's Cloverdale Library under the Harper Government's Community Infrastructure Improvement Fund (CIIF).
"Our Government is continuing to support communities across Canada by investing in necessary infrastructure that will improve the quality of life and create new economic opportunities," said MP Hiebert. "This project will create jobs, growth and long-term prosperity in our community."

The Harper Government will help the City of Surrey upgrade the Cloverdale Library with $50,000 in federal funding. Upgrades will include replacing the building's exterior walls, windows, skylights, and a portion of the library roof. These upgrades will result in environmental benefits by improving energy efficiency of the overall building.
"The revitalization of the Cloverdale Library will help improve the energy efficiency of the building, reduce operating costs, and ensure residents can enjoy the facility for many more years to come," says Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts," The City of Surrey is also contributing $52,500 to the project."
CIIF supports, on a cost-shared basis, repairs and improvements to existing community infrastructure accessible to the public. Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) is delivering the Fund in Western Canada with an allocation of $46.2 million over two years.
Since 2006, the Harper Government, through WD, has invested in job-creating small and medium-sized businesses, aerospace, marine and defence industries, and supported innovative entrepreneurs in pursuing emerging markets. By continuing to promote new economic opportunities, WD is helping to create jobs, economic growth, and long-term prosperity.

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Backgrounder
Community Infrastructure Improvement Fund
Through the Community Infrastructure Improvement Fund (CIIF), the Harper Government has committed to supporting communities and creating jobs through repairs and improvements to existing community facilities over the next two years. The Fund is being delivered by the regional development agencies across Canada. In Western Canada, Western Economic Diversification is delivering over $46 million towards eligible projects.
The construction of new infrastructure and repairs to facilities that are primarily for commercial or for-profit activities are ineligible. Facilities must be accessible for use by the public and not limited to a private membership. All projects are required to be completed by March 31, 2014.
Organizations eligible to apply for funding under CIIF include:

--  local or regional governments or related agencies; 
--  provincial entities that provide municipal-type services to communities;
--  non-profit organizations; and 
--  First Nation governments, including Band or Tribal Councils or their
    legally-designated representatives. 

Examples of the type of community infrastructure that can be supported under CIIF include:

--  community centres; 
--  cultural centres; 
--  parks; 
--  libraries; 
--  recreational facilities (e.g. local arenas, swimming pools, sports
    fields, and other types of recreational facilities); 
--  tourism facilities having a local impact; and 
--  other existing community infrastructure assets which have a local
    community impact such as connectivity and broadband and local airports. 

Please refer to the Community Infrastructure Improvement Fund : www.wd.gc.ca/eng/13771.asp website for more information.


Contacts:

Jaime Burke

Regional Communications Manager

Western Economic Diversification Canada

Vancouver, British Columbia

604-666-1318


Tara Foslien

Senior Communications Specialist

Office of the Mayor

604-375-4584
TFoslien@surrey.ca :


WD Toll-Free Number: 1-888-338-WEST (9378)

Teletypewriter (TTY): 1-877-303-3388

WD Website: www.wd-deo.gc.ca