RDNO applying for $4M green grant for new Greater Vernon Cultural Centre

Photo: Contributed

The Regional District of North Okanagan is gunning for a huge grant that would make the Greater Vernon Cultural Centre one of the greenest buildings in the city.

RDNO officials will submit an application for $4 million in funding to the federal Green and Inclusive Community Buildings (GIBC) program to construct the building as net-zero carbon or net-zero carbon-ready and to meet or exceed the highest published accessibility standard.

The new centre will house the Vernon art gallery, museum, and multipurpose community space including a 200-retractable-seat presentation space.

The total project construction cost, including land, is $39.5 million.

The project was approved for borrowing of up to $25 million by the electorate in 2018.

The RDNO has also applied for $8.5 million through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure program – Community, Culture and Recreation stream.

A staff report to the RDNO board says the federal government is providing up to $1.5 billion in federal funding over five years for the GICB program, which provides funding to retrofit existing facilities for green energy and inclusive infrastructure, and to contribute to new builds where infrastructure gaps exist in the community.

The program has a focus on community, culture and recreation facilities, making it an appropriate target for funding needs within the GVCC funding strategy.