It is that time of year again when community groups can submit projects to their city, village or unincorporated area for funding support from the Columbia Basin Trust Community Initiatives Program.
This program is the oldest and largest granting program from the CBT. It has been in operation since 1998 and currently disburses approximately $3.6 million per year. The communities in Greater Trail will receive some $300,000 in 2012 of which the City of Trail will receive $100,000 based on population. This program throughout the Columbia River Basin is administered and managed by the Regional Districts or First Nations.
Application forms can be obtained from the RDKB office on Rossland Avenue in Trail and on the RDKB website at www.rdkb.com. If you need help in preparing your application, give Sharon Toupin a call at (250) 368-9148. It is important that you submit your project application before the deadline of March 23, 2012 at 4:00 pm.
It is also important to remember that you must be an incorporated non-profit organization or a group sponsored by an incorporated non-profit organization. Your society number is required on the application.
If your organization provides a service to residents from all the political jurisdictions of Greater Trail, you can request funds from more than one jurisdiction. The Scouting and Cadet programs are good examples of this. The upgrading of Camp Tweedsmuir near Fruitvale has shown how all political jurisdictions from Greater Trail contributed funds to make it a first class facility for our young people.
Camp Tweedsmuir Property Manager, Heather Hamer says: “The Community Initiatives Program has been a life saver for helping in the overall upgrades at Camp Tweedsmuir and to acquiring some of the activity equipment we needed to move forward with our program and Area events. Thank you to CBT and the Municipalities for their role in deciding where to spend the funds.”
The volunteers that have constructed and maintained the wonderful hiking trails we now have from Rossland through to the Beaver Valley area have been supported by this program. Volunteers have also appreciated clubhouse upgrades and concession facility improvements that were long overdue at Butler Park and at the Trail Curling facility.
The Trail Smoke Eaters bus purchase last year has assisted the club in saving a significant amount of money on transportation. The Smoke Eaters continue to be such an important positive image for our area.
The equipment upgrades for the Gymnastics Society and the Trail Maple Leaf Band have helped to ensure these wonderful and dedicated organizations continue to operate in our community.
We are very proud of Career Development Services in our area. The youth and adult wood shop in East Trail has been supported by the program.
The Lower Columbia Community Development Team’s Columbia River Reconnect Mural at the east end of the Trail Memorial Centre became a reality with support from Community Initiatives. The murals, statue projects and the Communities in Bloom program have been a significant factor in improving the image of Trail.
On April 16, at 4 pm, Trail Council will hold a special public meeting where all submitting organizations can present their project for funding consideration. This is always a special meeting for Council as they learn very interesting details about their community and are amazed by the enthusiasm of the organizations and volunteers in our community. Immediately after the public meeting, Council must then decide how to distribute $100,000 that is available the to extremely valuable community projects needing more than twice that amount (applications to Trail’s program in 2011 requested a total of $219,698.74).
I would like to thank everyone for the incredible projects you develop for funding. There is no doubt that your hard work and dedication assisted with funding from the Columbia Basin Trust continues to improve the quality of life for all of our residents. “Good luck” to all of you with this year’s funding requests.
Dieter Bogs is the Mayor of Trail. Community Comment is written by elected officials in Greater Trail.