Update: Federal grant sought for Greater Vernon Cultural Centre

May 23, 2024 | 9:30 AM

UPDATE

Regional District of North Okanagan staff have been given approval to submit a grant application to the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund for the architect and consulting fees associated with completing the pre-construction services and design for the Greater Vernon Cultural Centre.

The funding request will be up to and including construction drawings, with 50 per cent of the estimated $2.1 million cost to be funded from the Canada Cultural Spaces Funding stream.

Original story

Efforts to secure funding for the Greater Vernon Cultural Centre will include seeking support from the federal government.

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The Regional District of North Okanagan’s board of directors is expected to approve a recommendation from the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee to apply for a grant of around $1 million from the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund (CCSF).

2023-11-30_GVCC from carley on Vimeo.

RDNO video

The money would be used for the architect and consulting fees to complete the pre-construction services and design for the centre up to and including construction drawings.

Up to 50 per cent of the estimated $2.1 million cost could come from the CCSF.

The grant recommendation is on the RDNO board meeting agenda for May 22.

The 31,000 square foot Greater Vernon Cultural Centre is estimated to cost $41.9 million which includes land, design, soft costs, borrowing fees, and construction costs.

The RDNO has $28 million secured through borrowing, and another $13.9 million is being sought through a fundraising campaign including senior government grants, foundation contributions, and community fundraising.

Back in February, RDNO said it was hoping to have the remainder of the required funding lined-up by July 2024 to meet the target construction start date of September 2025 at a site on 31st Avenue in downtown Vernon, a current city parking lot.

In May 2022, Greater Vernon residents approved borrowing up to $28 million for the centre in an alternative approval process. That figure was up from the original $25 million approved in a referendum in November 2018.

The centre will be the new home for the Vernon Public Art Gallery and the Greater Vernon Museum, and will also provide a presentation and event space.

For more on the facility, visit the RDNO website.

by Pete McIntyre

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