Deadline: 18-Aug-23
The Columbia Basin Trust has announced the Community Readiness Program to support the ability of rural and remote Basin communities to meet their needs during emergencies and disasters such as floods, wildfires, extreme heat or sustained power and communication interruptions.
Program grants will support:
- the purchase of emergency readiness equipment and supplies to be made available for community wide benefit;
- enhanced regional emergency communications; and
- improvements to community use facilities that will be used during emergencies, including accessibility improvements.
Strategic Priorities
- Community Well-being
- Ecosystem Enhancement
- High-speed Connectivity
- Housing
- Local Food Production and Access
- Support for Business Renewal
Funding Information
- Up to 80 per cent of total project costs, or $100,000, can be requested from the Trust. Depending on the applicant’s ability to contribute, the Trust may consider a larger contribution than 80% or $100,000.
- Projects that demonstrate broad community support and collaboration and confirmed cash contributions are more likely to receive funding.
Eligible Projects
- Projects must demonstrate significant potential community impact. Eligible costs include, but are not limited to, costs associated with:
- the purchase and installation of emergency readiness equipment, either for publicly accessible buildings (Reception Centres) or for temporary loan to communities or vulnerable individuals/families, such as:
- generators (fixed or mobile), including energy storage, that will provide public access to power during power outages;
- equipment needed to set up temporary shelters or Reception Centres;
- air purifiers, air filtration systems;
- heat pumps, mini split cooling systems or air conditioners for cooling centres;
- consumables (rations of food, water, hygiene products etc.);
- storage containers for emergency supplies and equipment;
- upgrades to existing publicly accessible buildings to provide relief during extreme temperature events including equipment for air filtration, cooling/warming, and electrical charging;
- supporting accessibility upgrades for buildings that will be used for community readiness; and
- First Aid equipment and supplies;
- the purchase and installation of equipment to be used for regional communication during times of regular service interruption, or for the use of emergency services broadcasting by local governments or Indigenous communities; and
- training in the use and distribution of emergency readiness equipment.
- the purchase and installation of emergency readiness equipment, either for publicly accessible buildings (Reception Centres) or for temporary loan to communities or vulnerable individuals/families, such as:
Eligibility Criteria
- Eligible applicants include First Nations, non-profit organizations and local governments representing communities in the Columbia Basin Trust region for projects taking place within the region. Rural or remote communities, or Reception Centres serving rural and remote communities, will be prioritized.
- Non-profit organizations must demonstrate the support of their Regional District or municipality.
Ineligible
- The types of projects that are not eligible include, but are not limited to those that:
- have narrowly defined benefit;
- include emergency response equipment that is specific to (primary use of) search; and
- rescue organizations, fire departments or BC Ambulance Service;
- are intended to address infrastructure disaster recovery;
- take place outside the Basin; or
- relieve any level of government of its obligations.
For more information, visit Columbia Basin Trust.