Annapolis Valley Applicants Awarded Nova Scotia Moves Grants

Communities in the Annapolis Valley have an opportunity to make more sustainable, active and accessible transportation choices through the latest round of the Nova Scotia Moves program.

Through Nova Scotia Moves, the province offers grants of up to $200,000 to groups supporting sustainable transportation at the local level, including municipalities, band councils, community benefit organizations and social enterprises.

Six successful applicants from the Annapolis Valley were awarded grants in this round, totalling $179,450.

"This program provides financial support to community-based projects in our area that help further the goals of the province's Sustainable Transportation Strategy," said Kings North MLA Jim Morton, on behalf of Energy Minister Charlie Parker. "I would like to congratulate the successful applicants and thank them for their contribution to our communities."

The grants awarded to organizations in the Annapolis Valey region include:

• Municipality of the County of Kings and Town of Wolfville, to develop the Greenwich Rail Trail, which will provide a link between New Minas and Wolfville
• Trans County Transportation Society, to pilot a new medical transportation service
• Municipality of the County of Annapolis, to develop an active transportation plan
• Municipality of East Hants and Cities & Environment Unit, to engage residents in an active transportation needs assessment
• Eco-Kings Action Team, to do a feasibility study on a rapid transit service between the Annapolis Valley and HRM
• King's Transit, for marketing studies and enhanced branding

"Funding from the Nova Scotia moves program has allowed us to assess and support the specific needs of our community, and connect people to where they live, work, and play in the Municipality of the County of Kings," said Meg Cuming, interim manager, Parks and Recreation, Municipality of the County of Kings.

Across the province, 37 successful applications were awarded funding during the latest round, totalling $1.4 million.

This round's applicants were diverse and address many sustainable transportation issues including active transportation, public and community transit, land use planning, efficient vehicles and public engagement.

The program helps Nova Scotians drive less distance, move more actively and efficiently, use cleaner energy, access a wider range of sustainable transportation options and engage communities around sustainable transportation issues.

In the 2012-13 pilot round, the province awarded over $900,000 to projects developing ideas from active transportation routes to online information services. Twenty-eight grants were awarded and are now under way.

For more information, visit http://novascotia.ca/sustainabletransportation/.