South Shore Applicants Awarded Nova Scotia Moves Grants

Communities in the South Shore region 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.

Three successful applicants from the region were awarded funding grants in this round, totalling $91,000.

"Nova Scotia Moves provides financial support to community-based projects, and encourages active transportation," said Lunenburg West MLA Gary Ramey, on behalf of Energy Minister Charlie Parker. "Congratulations to the applicants from this region on their successful projects."

The Town of Bridgewater was awarded $60,000 to support a plan to revitalize its downtown to encourage active transportation. The Blue Route, a provincial bicycle network, is getting a head start on the Aspotogan Peninsula through the Route Enhancement Committee of the Aspotogan Peninsula, which will be developing and piloting Blue Route signage standards with a $16,000 grant. The LaHave River Trail Association was awarded $15,000 for the LaHave River Trail Route Plan, which is part of Lunenburg County's active transportation plan.

Across the province, 37 successful applications were awarded funding during the latest round, totalling $1.4 million. This round's applicants are diverse and address many sustainable transportation issues including active transportation, public and community transit, land use planning, efficient vehicles and public engagement.

"It's clear the people of the South Shore region want better transportation choices that, over the long term, are healthier and will help protect and preserve the environment," said Mr. Ramey.

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 underway.

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