The city will seek federal funding for a new roofing system over the Pembroke and Area Community Centre (PACC).

Council this week supported an application to the Community Infrastructure Improvement Fund recently announced by Ottawa.

The new two-year national program will invest $150 million to rehabilitate and improve existing community infrastructure across Canada. It will help to modernize infrastructure and provide broad-based economic benefits to communities. Costs must be incurred between April 1, 2012 and March 31, 2014.

“The city does have a number of projects identified in our capital plan that could be eligible for funds,” said operations manager Doug Sitland.

Other options included funding renovations to the Pembroke Memorial Centre, dredging the marina and upgrades to the waterfront boardwalk or Kinsmen Pool. However, Mr. Sitland noted that council has endorsed a multi-year capital forecast in principle with funds already identified for the PACC roof.

While the fund may contribute up to 50 per cent of eligible costs, he added applicants are encouraged to demonstrate other sources of funding and preference may be to allocate to funds based on a one-third cost share.

In this year’s budget, council had budgeted $400,000 for the main roof over the centre with the tender price coming in at $270,000. Mr. Sitland noted that council did not decide on the other two roofing systems, however, his department will identify them as priorities in next year’s budget requests.

Sean Chase is a Daily Observer multimedia journalist

sean.chase@sunmedia.ca