City awarded grants totalling $27M in 2022
The City of Kelowna was awarded a whopping $27 million in grants in 2022 compared to $20 million in 2021, says a report received by city council on Monday.
“The City of Kelowna actively pursues alternative revenue through grants,” explained Michelle Kam, the city’s grants and special projects manager, adding the application success rate was a remarkable 73 per cent.
“This value highlights the importance of our robust grant management program.”
Grants are not a guaranteed source of revenue, she explained, but if successful can be used to leverage existing city resources. Grants are cyclical and competitive-based so there will be years when the city receives more or less, she cautioned.
“The city receives funds from external providers, including the federal and provincial governments, research institutions, and other organizations.
Grant applications and contract timelines vary depending on the funding provider; therefore, the city is in a constant cycle of planning, securing and managing grants.”
Of the 24 grants with a total value of $27 million, $22.8 million – or 84 per cent – was for eight airport grants including $15 million for five airport infrastructure projects and a $3.7-million provincial grant to build an 86-space airport childcare facility operated by the YMCA of the Okanagan.
Another $1.2 million went to provide critical services and supports for people sheltering outdoors.
Airport infrastructure projects were for: a combined operations building, runway end safety area, biosecurity testing facility, air terminal building roof replacement, and design of airfield lighting and supporting infrastructure.
The city also received $40 million for what are called 42 managed grants: 24 grants awarded in 2022 and 18 multi-year grants that were managed in 2022.
The managed grants included: $22 million for the Mill Creek flood protection project, a multi-year initiative to improve the Mill Creek corridor and the diversion structure to reduce flooding potential throughout the city by redirecting Mill Creek floodwaters to Mission Creek.
Also, $9 million for the Kelowna septic system elimination and sewer connection project, replacing aging septic systems with sewer service in Rutland, Rio/Rialto and a new Mission Creek crossing for future servicing of the Hall Road area.
The separate $3.2-million Kelowna outdoor sheltering strategy created a multifaceted strategy that includes the City of Kelowna and key community partners for overnight outdoor shelter, operations of overnight and day-use sites, community integration and an antistigma campaign.
Another $2.4 million went to the Rutland to Okanagan Rail Trail active transportation corridor to construct a shared all-agesand-abilities active transportation pathway to connect Rutland to the Okanagan Rail Trail.
Coun. Gord Lovegrove wanted to know more about the $12,800 grant to assess the risks and contaminants associated with the city’s snow storage locations, perhaps requiring those piles be relocated elsewhere.
The final report is expected by the end of March. After Kam included the $1.1 million in federal/provincial grant for inclusivity features at the Pandosy Waterfront Park pier project, Coun. Mohini Singh noted the number of potential grants focusing on accessibility and said other city projects may fit the criteria.