Highways to get a cleaning and grants extended

Finally! It’s spring! And that means it’s time for highways to get a good scrubbing. Kind of.

On Saturday, young volunteers will collect trash along highways as part of an annual cleanup to raise money for community organizations.

Drivers are asked to slow down, obey signs and use caution when passing cleanup crews.

Volunteer organizations include 4-H clubs, Scouts, Girl Guides, schools, church organizations, Rotary clubs, sports teams and other non-profit groups. Groups can earn between $55 and $100 per kilometre cleaned, but must register to participate.

Last year, the government contributed $1.1 million to 709 organizations involved in the highway cleanup. More than 17,000 volunteers collected 53,000 bags of garbage while cleaning up 13,000 km of Alberta roads.

CARES GRANTS REJIGGED, EXTENDED

The Community and Regional Economic Support (CARES) program has been extended for two more years, with the latest round of applications opening June 1.

The program was launched two years ago to allow local leaders to build on their regional strengths and create new jobs.

The government has also rejigged the program to encourage not-for-profits and municipalities to partner with private industry, reduce the fund-matching required by First Nations and Métis settlements and shorten the application intake window from 60 to 30 days.

Economic Development and Trade Minister Deron Bilous said extending the program will help communities take on projects they might not have been able to do alone.

Three rounds of CARES grants have funded more than 170 projects across Alberta. They include a small business incubator in Grande Prairie, a networking and mentorship programming for women entrepreneurs in Edmonton, an industrial park development on the Samson Cree Nation and employment training for new Canadians in Red Deer.