Oliver, Keremeos, Osoyoos and the Okanagan-Similkameen Regional District are receiving over $900,000 from the Strategic Community Investment Fund to invest in local policing and community safety, services and projects, MLA Linda Larson has announced.
It is part of almost $74 million being invested through the Fund into communities across B.C. this year. Local communities have discretion and flexibility to use this unconditional funding to meet their needs in various ways including more policing, new equipment, increased community safety initiatives, infrastructure, administration and service delivery priorities.
“These grants given to our small communities from the provincial government help ensure that public safety services are adequately funded,” said Larson, MLA for Boundary - Similkameen. “With our government’s commitment to sharing these funds we will continue to see a better quality of life developed in our communities.”
Communities receiving Small Community Grants:
$236,470 – Keremeos
$317,847 – Osoyoos
$328,515 – Oliver
Regional District Grant:
$109,195 – Okanagan-Similkameen
Village Chief Administrative Officer Laurie Taylor said the annual funding is placed in the operating funds budget, used to fund various projects in the community.
The Strategic Community Investment Fund includes the Traffic Fine Revenue Sharing Program, Small Community Grant and Regional District Grant Programs. Small Community Grants apply to communities with less than 20,000 and are used for infrastructure, to ensure stable administration and service delivery priorities.