Kelowna seeks $6.8M in federal grants

Wayne Moore - Jun 23, 2009 CASTANET

Kelowna's high unemployment rate may be a benefit as the city looks to access funds for four specific projects. A new federal program through the Western Economic Diversification and Community Adjustment Fund will make $120 million available to B.C. communities over the next two years to provide an economic stimulus to communities impacted by the global recession. Statistics Canada pegged Kelowna's unemployment rate at 11.5% in May. "I know talking to our MP that our unemployment rate is a really important factor in the eligibility of our area. We're not a one industry town like some of the places that would be needing this fund," says Councillor, Robert Hobson. "The high unemployment rate does give us a leg up in getting this kind of funding. It's not a good thing, but it's a thing." The City will look to obtain more than $6.8 million in grants for the four projects, the largest being $4.5 million to turn 10 pontoons into a breakwater and pier. The pontoon project was listed as the number one priority by city staff.

The other three projects, in order of priority include:

• $1.570 million for Community Parks and Open Spaces Network - development of seven new neighbourhood parks
  
• $300,000 for Neighbourhood Woods - to encourage tree planting in neighbourhood backyards
  
• $500,000 for Green Team - to build new trails and decommission those that are undesirable.

Grants Manager, Lorna Gunn, told council the pontoon project would result in approximately 312 person months of employment, a key component to the grant application. The deadline for applying for the grant money is June 27. Gunn says Western Economic Diversification will review the grant requests and respond as quickly as possible. She says projects are supposed to be ready to go in August, adding all four Kelowna requests will be ready to go by then. Kelowna is applying for pontoon funding even though a report on how best to utilize the pontoons and to what extend, has yet to be presented to council. Staff has promised that the pontoon report, which was scheduled to be on the agenda this week, will be ready in time for next Monday's meeting.