The Regional District of East Kootenay Board of Directors has approved funding for 144 projects around the region over the coming year.
The funding comes from Columbia Basin Trust’s Community Initiatives and Affected Areas Programs, which are administered by the RDEK.
“The approved 2019/2020 projects represent $1,228,659 in funding for everything from youth mental health and education initiatives to recreation programs, equipment purchases and facility upgrades,” says RDEK Board Chair Rob Gay. “We remain deeply grateful to Columbia Basin Trust for its ongoing support. When you look at the wide range of projects and different sectors across the region that benefit, it strikes home what a profound difference the Community Initiatives and Affected Areas Programs make in our communities.”
After considering public input and recommendations from the municipalities and Electoral Area Directors, the Board approved the funding at its June Board Meeting.
Program funds are distributed annually to the Trust’s partners:
– Local government partners: the regional districts of East Kootenay, Central Kootenay and Kootenay Boundary, the City of Revelstoke, Town of Golden and Village of Valemount
– Indigenous partners: Ɂaq’am, Ɂakisq’nuk, Lower Kootenay (Yaqan nuɁkiy), Tobacco Plains Indian Band (Ɂakink’umŧasnuqŧiɁit) and the Shuswap Indian Band.
The Affected Areas Program is designed to put funds back into the Basin for those communities most affected by dam construction under the Columbia River Treaty. In the East Kootenay, the Program funds projects that meet priorities in communities which lie within 10 km of Lake Koocanusa and include the following:
– Electoral Area B: Jaffray, Galloway, Elko, Baynes Lake, Grasmere, and Newgate
– Portion of Electoral Area C: Wardner, Mayook and Bull River
Columbia Basin Trust supports efforts by the people of the Basin to create a legacy of social, economic and environmental well-being and to achieve greater self-sufficiency for present and future generations. To learn more about the Trust visit www.ourtrust.org.
