The Town of Mulgrave has recently begun work on developing its Integrated Community Sustainability Plan (ICSP). The implementation of this plan is a requirement by municipalities under the agreement with the province of Nova Scotia and the federal government, to transfer funds equivalent to a portion of the federal excise tax on gasoline to municipalities. The Federal Gas Tax Agreement allows provinces to use a portion of their Gas Tax Funds to develop increased local capacity, including community-based planning.                         

The concept is for the ICSP to be a forward-looking planning document for a community. The ICSP recognized the interconnected dimensions of environmental, social, cultural, and economic development within a community and focuses on integrating these considerations to achieve 20 to 30 years (and beyond) vision for the community. ICSP aims to empower communities to address their current and future needs, embedding their infrastructure requirements within these broader strategies.