Jane Long. (Keith Lacey photo)
If you live in Osoyoos and are organizing any kind of event that brings people together, you will very likely want to know about a program that offers funding “for endorsing the concept of community.”
The Community Foundation of the South Okanagan (CFSO) has been offering its Neighbourhood Small Grant program to several communities in the South Okanagan over the past couple of years and that program is now being offered in Osoyoos, said local committee member Jane Long, who owns and operates a chartered accountant business in town.
“This started with the community foundation in Vancouver and they are still helping us with some funding and setting up the program in the South Okanagan,” said Long. “The funding is available for things like neighbourhood barbecues, cultural dinners … basically anything that brings people from across the community together for a special event.
“If there is an event that brings the community together, they can apply for a maximum of $500 towards making that event a success in the community.”
There is a total of $40,000 available through the Neighbourhood Small Grant program, which would fund 800 community events annually, she said.
There are multiple grants available of up to $500 for ideas that are “big enough to matter and small enough to do,” she said.
“For example … neighbourhood potlucks, art or building projects, a workshop, even pet parades and friendly contests,” said Long. “Essentially it is a chance for locals to do what they have talked to their neighbours about doing.”
The deadline for applying for funding in 2016 expires on Friday, July 29 at the end of the business day, said Long.
The program will start up again in 2017 in April, she said.
“We haven’t had a lot of applications so far because I think most people don’t know about the program,” she said. “Anyone interested has until Friday to get their application in.
“The board will meet and make their decisions on which groups and which projects will be approved for funding by the end of August.”
If applications can’t be filed on time before Friday, Long said new applications will start being accepted early next spring before funding announcements are made in April.
Visit cfso.net for the application.
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
