Malta’s local councils are set to receive a major funding boost, with €12.8 million being invested in community projects across the country over the next two years.The investment comes through a new agreement between the Public Works Department and Malta’s local councils, with the money going towards everything from pavement and accessibility improvements to maintenance works and upgrades to public spaces.The announcement was made by Local Government and Public Works Minister Alison Zerafa Civelli, alongside Permanent Secretary Emil Vassallo and Community Projects Division Director General Nadia Gatt.The new agreement represents a €2.8 million increase over the previous €10 million allocation.According to the government, the additional funding will give councils more room to identify and implement projects based on the specific needs of their residents.“We are increasing investment in our communities to €12.8 million to give Local Councils more tools to implement the projects their residents genuinely need,” Zerafa Civelli said.She added that the measure fulfils an electoral pledge within the government’s first 100 days.Local councils will retain the ability to choose which projects should be prioritised, with Vassallo stressing that councils are best placed to make those decisions because of their proximity to residents.And the previous round of funding has already resulted in more than 100 projects across Malta.Over the last two years, 123 infrastructure projects were completed through cooperation between the Public Works Department and local councils.The latest agreement is intended to make that process more structured, with individual projects having clearly established budgets, timelines and responsibilities.Among the initiatives expected to benefit are further pavement improvements across Malta, with accessibility and mobility highlighted as key priorities.Other funding can go towards maintenance, public spaces and infrastructure projects aimed at making localities safer and more accessible.Ultimately, the €12.8 million pot will be spread across projects identified at local level over the coming two years, meaning residents could soon start seeing more upgrades taking shape in their own neighbourhoods.What do you make of this?•