Rural dollars in South OK

Photo: Tourism Summerland

The BC Government is announcing three grants to South Okanagan local governments as a part of its rural dividend program.

The program awards grants to communities smaller than 25,000 people. This latest round of funding saw individual grants capped at $10,000. Province wide, $700,000 is being distributed. 

Okanagan Falls was awarded $10,000 to go toward conservation efforts to preserve, restore or relocate the historical remains of a cabin built by local pioneer Michael Keogan.

Summerland received two grants, one of $9,913 for the Summerland Museum and Archives Society to develop a five-year action plan for fundraising needs and society goals.

The second Summerland grant went to the district, a full $10,000 to create a land inventory for available industrial, commercial and institutional land to help optimize unrealized economic opportunities.

Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development Minister Doug Donaldson congratulated all the awarded communities when he announced the funding Tuesday.

"The selected projects reflect the strength of rural communities — people working together for the good of the community," Donaldson said.