Columbia Valley Pioneer - June 13, 2008

Columbia Basin funds unclaimed

By Alex Cooper
Pioneer Staff

Community groups left more than $14,000 on the table this year, as there weren’t enough applications for Columbia Basin Trust funding.

Due to a lack of applications and an increase in funding, the District of Invermere was only able to give out about two-thirds of the money they had allocated for the Columbia Basin Trust Community Initiative Funds.

“I’m disappointed that there wasn’t more advertising done about these funds,” said
councillor Ray Brydon.

The Columbia Basin Trust was established in 1995 to provide funding to communities affected by the 1964 Columbia River Treaty.

The treaty between Canada and theUnited States allowed for the construction of three dams along the river, but also displaced 2,300 people due to the flooding of their farms and communities.

The trust received a $295-million endowment by the province, of which $250 million goes to funding power projects in the basin and the remaining $45 million was reinvested to fund community and business projects.

For this year, funding in Invermere increased to $41,836.13, more than three times the amount given out last year.

Wayne Lundeberg, a community liaison for the trust, said Invermere was not the only place where the funds were not all allocated.

Community groups now have to put on their thinking caps and start planning projects on a larger scale than before.

“A lot of times, expectations are fairly modest,” he said. “With more money, people will think a
little grander."

And he said size doesn’t matter. “Even in places with small populations, there’s lots of great ideas to be funded,” he added.

Shannon Moskal, the deputy manager of administration for the Regional District of East Kootenay, who managed the funds for the region, said advertisements were placed in local papers this year.

“For next year we’ll look at how we advertise so we get it out to as many people as possible,” she said.

The Community Initiative Funds is a community-based granting program that incorporates residents’ input in the adjudication process.

In the end, $27,457 was given out by the District of Invermere to 12 organizations.

“These are all worthy causes,” said councillor Sarah Bennett. “It’s always a pleasure to give away other people’s money.”

Meanwhile, the Village of Radium Hot Springs has recommended giving away $10,499 to 10 community groups, with $887 not allocated, according to Chief Administrative Officer Mark Read.

The Village of Canal Flats also allocated $9,755 to seven groups.

The fund allocations are still waiting to be approved by the Regional District of East Kootenay Board of Directors at their July meeting.

Ms. Moskal said the remaining funds will be carried over to next year. People interested in applying can contact her at info@rdek.bc.ca.

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