Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1543384
THIS IS A PAID COLLABORATION Unprecedented support Additional funds to Local Councils LOCAL councils truly have never had it so good. Since their inception in 1993, they have never enjoyed anything near today's volume of finan- cial support. More so with the recent allocation of £3,200,000 additional funds funnelled to 45 different localities in Mal- ta and Gozo, and expressly aimed at generating stronger local communities for a better quality of life. Thanks to these funds, our towns and villages will be embarking on a variety of new projects, small and large, that will help enhance the everyday lives of their resi- dents. The projects include the drafting and approval of future plans, maintenance, infrastructural interven- tions, the installation of lifts, the purchase of cars and street-cleansing equipment, and the embellishment of gardens and open spaces. Local councils will be bene- fitting from a variety of funds under various Local Govern- ment Division schemes that, among others, promote cul- ture, infrastructural projects and maintenance undertak- ings. Schemes that provide for national and community cultural activities are the An- nual Cultural Activities 2026, Christmas Activities 2026, and Carnival Activities 2027. Other schemes include the Stronger Communities for a better quality of Life; the Maintenance Fund, and The Upkeep of Major Infrastruc- tural Projects carried out by the Central Government. Announcing these addition- al funds, the Parliamentary Secretary for Local Govern- ment, Alison Zerafa Civelli, said sustained investment in our localities will ensure the citizen will always be the fo- cus for both the government and local councils. She add- ed: "This year is going to be a bumper one for local com- munities. We are committed to ensuring that both young and aged are involved in all our endeavours. The young come with new and fresh ideas, senior citizens pro- vide us with their experience and know-how as we seek to make the best decisions that concern the localities." The Parliamentary Secre- tary also spoke on how "year after year, several schemes are re-issued to maintain our unstinting support for local councils in carrying out their mission, in alignment with the aims and targets of Vi- sion Malta 2050, and with an accent on public cleanliness and security, open spaces and recreational facilities for all Maltese and Gozitan fam- ilies." While thanking all local council employees for their share in the extra work in- volved in their localities af- ter the recent storm that hit the Maltese islands, Parlia- mentary Secretary Zerafa Civelli gave a detailed break- down of activities held last year. These included 61 cul- ture-linked activities around Malta and Gozo, 50 Carnival activities, 53 environmental initiatives on World Cleanup Day, 45 capital projects and another nine linked to main- tenance and support for cap- ital projects. Also speaking during the launch of additional funds to local councils, the Direc- tor General of the Local Gov- ernment Division, Emile Vas- sallo, said the new schemes will further consolidate the work carried out during the past few years. He added that local projects under the Stronger Communities for a better quality of Life can benefit up to €100,000 max- imum, while activities under the Cultural Activities Fund can qualify for a €20,000 maximum. The localities that will be benefitting from addition- al funds are: Ħ'Attard, Ħal Balzan, Mosta, Birkirkara, Gżira, Ħal Għargħur, Ħal Li- ja, Msida, Swieqi, Valletta, Senglea, Bormla, Ħaż-Żab- bar, Fgura, Floriana, Paola, Ħal Tarxien, Xgħajra, Ħal Qormi, Birżebbuġa, Gudja, Ħamrun, Marsa, Marsaxlokk, Santa Luċija, Santa Venera, Siġġiewi, Ħal Kirkop, Mqab- ba, Qrendi, Rabat, Ħal Safi, Mtarfa, and in Gozo, Fontana, Għajnsielem, Għarb, Għasri, Kerċem, Munxar, Nadur, Qa- la, Sannat, Xagħra, Xewkija and Żebbuġ. maltatoday | SUNDAY • 22 FEBRUARY 2026