CBT Recommits to community initiatives funding

by Keith Powell — October 20, 2010

The Board of Columbia Basin Trust (CBT) has confirmed its recommitment to the Community Initiatives and the Affected Areas Programs (CIP/AAP) by approving funding for the next five years with a new $30,000 minimum.

"As we finish the third year of a three-year agreement, we look to the next five years of supporting Basin communities with this $3.6 million annual program that allows communities to shape their own futures by identifying priority projects in their area," said Garry Merkel, CBT board chair. "The longer time period will give partners and communities confidence in sustained funding, and the new minimum will provide additional resources to some small and remote communities."

In June 2010, the CBT Board conditionally recommitted to the CIP/AAP for a period of five years with funding remaining at current levels except for implementation of a $30,000 minimum (based on combined CIP and AAP funding) per incorporated municipality, regional district area or First Nations Band, pending consultation with delivery partners.

The response from partners and communities was very positive to the increased term of the agreement (from three to five years) and to the modification in funding that provided additional resources to some small and remote incorporated and unincorporated communities in the Basin.

In addition, CBT will assist communities that want to enhance public input in identifying community priorities for this funding.

The CIP/AAP are intended to be flexible to help address the needs of individual communities, and decisions on how to best disburse the funding are community-based. Program funds are distributed once a year to CBT's local government partners: the regional districts of East Kootenay, Central Kootenay and Kootenay Boundary, and the City of Revelstoke, Town of Golden, Village of Valemount and Ktunaxa Nation Council.

The programs—CBT's oldest and largest—support projects identified as priorities within their communities. All areas receive CIP funding, while those most affected by dam construction under the Columbia River Treaty (those around the Arrow, Kinbasket, Duncan and Koocanusa reservoirs) also receive AAP funding.

For more information on CIP and AAP, visit www.cbt.org/programs.