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Community Programs & Infrastructure - Provincial Capital Assistance Program
Assistance for Municipal Infrastructure Projects
  1. Program Purpose
  2. Eligible Projects
  3. Program Emphasis
  4. Eligible Project Costs
    1. Engineering:
    2. Construction/Equipment:
    3. Land:
  5. Program Administration
  6. Assistance For Eligible Projects
  7. Application Requirements
  8. General Conditions and Requirements

1. Program Purpose

The Government of the Province of Nova Scotia recognizes that the cost of undertaking water supply, sewer disposal and solid waste projects can place significant financial burdens on municipal governments and taxpayers alike. The Provincial Capital Assistance Program is designed to enable the Government of Nova Scotia to contribute financially towards the cost of high priority municipal infrastructure projects in order that this cost burden might be reduced to an affordable level.


2. Eligible Projects

The following projects are eligible for funding assistance under this program:
  • Construction or expansion of facilities for the treatment and disposal of sanitary sewage.
  • Construction of sanitary sewage collection systems.
  • Installation of individual and communal in-ground sewage disposal facilities within a Wastewater Management District.
  • Construction of water intake, treatment, pumping and storage facilities.
  • Installation of water transmission and distribution systems.
  • Construction, acquisition, upgrading or expansion of solid waste management facilities and equipment.
  • Municipal infrastructure engineering and research studies.

3. Program Emphasis

The amount of funding available for distribution on an annual basis is limited. Program funding applications are ranked according to the severity of the problems being addressed, as well as other factors. Generally, funding requests for projects designed to eliminate serious environmental and health problems (actual and potential) are accorded priority attention in the allocation of program funding. Pollution abatement is a primary emphasis of the program.

In allocating program funds, emphasis will be placed on projects designed to eliminate existing problems. Funding will not generally be available under this program for projects designed to open up land for new development (residential, commercial or industrial).

The provincial government wishes, where practical, to encourage intermunicipal cooperation in the provision of water supply, sewage disposal and solid waste management. Consequently, intermunicipal projects may receive special consideration in the distribution of program funding.


4. Eligible Project Costs

The following components of an Eligible Project qualify for cost sharing under the Provincial Capital Assistance Program:

  1. Engineering:

    • Cost of preliminary engineering studies.
    • Cost of preparing design drawings and specifications.
    • Cost of construction inspection and administration.

  2. Construction/Equipment:

    • Cost of construction and equipment acquisition as per plans and specifications.

  3. Land:

    • Cost of acquiring land and property easements.

Interim financing costs are not considered eligible for sharing under this program.


5. Program Administration

The Provincial Capital Assistance Program will be administered by the Department of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations.

Grant funds will be paid out over the term of the project upon receipt, by the Department, of periodic progress claims including copies of all paid invoices. Upon completion of a project, the Department will require a final statement of claim, certified by a registered municipal auditor.


6. Assistance For Eligible Projects

Grants of up to 50% may be made towards the cost of eligible infrastructure projects.

Grants of up to 100% may be made towards the cost of engineering studies and investigations.


7. Application Requirements

Municipal units wishing to obtain assistance under the Provincial Capital Assistance Program shall submit a formal written request to the Department of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations. Requests should be directed to the Minister.

Unless otherwise agreed to by the Department, requests for assistance shall be accompanied by:
  1. Documentation clearly substantiating the need for the capital work. The nature and extent of problems being addressed shall be described in detail.

  2. A detailed project description, including a drawing showing the layout of individual project components.

  3. A total estimated cost for the project, a detailed cost breakdown for individual project components showing quantities and assumed unit prices and a proposed implementation and cash flow schedule.

  4. A report describing the proposed financing arrangement for the project and substantiating the municipal units financial and technical ability to operate and maintain the project under completion.

  5. And, in addition, for water projects:

    • A report which indicates the impact that financing the project, with and without provincial assistance, will have on water rates.

8. General Conditions and Requirements

Municipal units undertaking projects with financial assistance from the Province of Nova Scotia through the Provincial Capital Assistance Program shall comply with the following general conditions and requirements:
  1. Provincial Capital Assistance Program funding for the construction of a project will not be advanced to a municipal unit until such time as:

    1. all necessary regulatory approvals have been obtained by the project proponent; and

    2. project financing arrangements have been finalized and all necessary borrowing and/or withdrawal from special reserve approvals have been obtained.

  2. Work carried out in violation of conditions set by regulatory authorities will not be cost shared by the Department.

  3. Grants for tendered projects will be based upon the price submitted by the lowest qualified bidder. Unless otherwise agreed to, Municipal Units will be required to follow the Nova Scotia Government Procurement Policy in awarding engineering and construction contacts.

  4. Municipal units may be required to submit general progress and evaluation reports during the course of construction on an approved project and will be required to co-operate with Departmental staff in monitoring the implementation of approved projects.

Other project specific conditions and requirements may be included in the approval documentation.

Contact:
Mr. Marvin MacDonald, Director
Grants and Programs
Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations
P.O. Box 216
Halifax, N.S.
Phone: 424-3858
Email: mrmacdon@gov.ns.ca

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