East Kootenay Community Credit Union (EKC) announced the launch of their Elk Valley Community Cash Awards. The programs’ goal is to support the development of healthy and diverse communities. The Community Cash Awards will offer community groups an opportunity to apply for funding while involving EKC members and the community in choosing the award winners.

Community groups are invited to apply for Community Cash Awards by submitting an application form by Saturday, March 11, 2017. Selected groups will move forward. Watch for them in your Elk Valley EKC branches from April 3 to 8 (Sparwood branch, Monday–Friday, and Fernie and Elkford, Tuesday–Saturday). All groups must be available to present again at EKC’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) Friday April 21, 2017 at the Best Western Plus Fernie Mountain Lodge. All Elk Valley community groups are invited to apply however they must become members to be eligible.

At the AGM, members and guests (including your supporters) will each receive EKC Community Cash when they arrive. Guests will be asked to invest their EKC Community Cash with one or more of the community groups. Each of the selected groups will receive $500 for attending the AGM as well as the real cash equivalent to the EKC Community Cash that they accumulated. The group with the most Community Cash will receive an additional $500.

Eric Johnstone, Regional Branch Manager, Elk Valley, added, “We look forward to bringing the ‘Community Cash Awards’ to the Elk Valley. They are an inclusive and fun way to involve EKC members, local citizens and youth in selecting the Community Cash Award recipients. Last year EKC awarded over $7,000 in total. All groups are winners, and we truly want to encourage all groups to apply.”

For more information about the Community Cash Awards and to download an application form here.