By Lexi McFarlane, Times Chronicle
Two channels of grant funding are receiving applications from the Town of Oliver, with the goal of completing an important utilities project through a joint funding arrangement. The funding applications centre around the Similkameen Avenue utilities project, which the Town has been looking to get done since early 2025.
Both grant funding streams are a part of the federal Build Communities Strong Fund (BCSF); one is referred to as the “Direct Delivery” stream, and the other known as the “Local Impact” stream.
The Town’s application to each stream is for up to a seven-figure amount, as under the Local Impact stream, the Town is seeking up to $1 million, or through the Direct Delivery stream, the number rises to just over $1.1 million. Oliver would only accept funding through one of the two BCSF channels, as those grants cannot be stacked.
Conor Loughnane, the Town’s Grants Coordinator, explained that these applications are being recommended following the outcome of previous applications to the Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund and the Union of BC Municipalities’ Strategic Priorities Fund, both of which were unsuccessful. He did say, however, that the Town’s share of funding the project has already been covered.
“It says in the report that the Town’s contribution would come from the Sewer, Road, and General Reserve funds; however, Oliver previously received $1.7 million in funding from the BC Growing Communities Fund,” Loughnane said. “We have confirmed that this funding is eligible for the Town’s (Similkameen) contribution.”
Before approving new applications, Water Councillor Bhupinder Dhaliwal asked if there were details given to the Town on the rejection of their previous grant attempts.
“Did we get any feedback on why we were unable to secure the funding there?” Dhaliwal asked. “Did the funding just get allocated to other communities, or dried up?”
Loughnane said that there is a lot of competition currently for grant money, implying that other towns made stronger cases.
“We’ve heard this feedback with several other grant applications recently, but it’s a very competitive environment out there, with lots of applications put in,” Loughnane said.
Part of the process of requesting Council approval for the grant applications included asking for approval for funding from the Town’s receipt of Growing Communities Fund money. The overall cost of the project is pegged at approximately $2.75 million.
Current utility infrastructure along Similkameen Avenue dates back to the 1960’s, and supplies about 1,000 homes in Oliver, amounting to approximately 40 per cent of the town’s housing units. Completion of the project would increase utility capacity fourfold, as the new infrastructure is being designed to support up to 4,000 homes,
Following unanimous approval from Council, the applications are being made, with the Direct Delivery stream entry having to be completed right away, with its deadline being July 20. The deadline for the Local Impact stream application is September 14.
