The Regional District East Kootenay (RDEK) has announced the seven Elk Valley recipients of the discretionary grant-in-aid funding at its board meeting on December 6. The Discretionary Grant-in-Aid Program supports projects that benefit rural communities and the people within them.
“As the Electoral Area A Director, it gives me great pride to be able to support a wide variety of projects throughout the year, which may not have been able to get off the ground without a little extra funding,” said Area A Director Mike Sosnowski.
Sparwood Secondary School will receive $1,000 and Fernie Secondary School will receive $2,000 to help offset the costs associated with sending their senior volleyball teams to Provincials.
The Hosmer Recreation Society will receive $500 for an amplifying system at the Hosmer Community Hall.
Fernie Alpine Resort received $1,000 for its New Years Eve fireworks display and the Fernie Freestyle Ski Club will receive $2,000 to go towards the costs of purchasing an airbag training facility.
The Fernie Chamber of Commerce will receive $3,000 for Fernie’s 2014 Griz Days Festival.
The Baynes Lake Volunteer Fire Department Society will receive $300 for the purchase of an automatic external defibrillator.
Registered non-profit organizations can submit a written application to the RDEK for funding to support projects that benefit the electoral areas. “These requests are referred to our Electoral Area Advisory Commissions, which make recommendations to the Electoral Area Directors prior to the Board making a final decision on the applications,” said Shannon Moskal, RDEK community services manager.
Applications are accepted throughout the year and the review process takes approximately two to three months.