Community grant funding helps improve Golden and the surrounding area year after year.
For more than 20 years, the Columbia Basin Trust (CBT) has been working to provide Golden initiatives with just more than $300,000 annually. This year, there is nearly $450,000 in funding available because the money from previous years wasn’t being completely used.
“We haven’t spent the money allocated to us in the past. It’s accumulating, and we’re approaching $450,000, which is huge when you think of ways community organizations can leverage that funding,” said Columbia Valley economic development officer Ryan Watmough.
The Community Initiatives Program and the Affected Areas Program are funded by CBT and managed by local and regional governments, and Indigenous partners. The Affected Areas Program puts funds back into communities that are affected by dam construction under the Columbia River Treaty. The Community Initiative Program funds are identified as priorities for the Town of Golden and the outlying communities.
Applications are being accepted now until February 4 for Golden and Area A.
For years, the programs have been supporting local projects that add value and benefit the community as a whole. Some previous funding recipients in Golden include the Rotary Club of Golden, Golden Community Resource Society, the Women’s Centre, Local Food Matters, the Golden Golf Club, and many more. Projects like purchasing and installing the Rotary trail lights have been positively benefited from the funding.
“I’m really hoping community groups think impactful, and design projects and applications that can have a huge benefit in the quality of life in Golden and Area A residents,” Watmough said. “I’m really hoping this stimulates some creative thinking.”
An application guide is available on the Town of Golden website, www.golden.ca. Once the application period comes to a close, the Trust Community Funds Local Selection Committee will host a public forum in March, and all of the applicants will appear before the committee to explain their project. From there, the committee will make selections from the applicants before the end of March.
Application guides, work sheets, and where to submit the application form can all be found online at www.golden.ca under “current issues and public processes,” and by following the link to “CBT Community Funds Annual Granting Process.”
For further information regarding the Community Initiatives and Affected Areas Programs e-mail cbtadmin@golden.ca.
