No Boundary projects listed as West Kootenay and Okanagan receive $37.4M

Five West Kootenay projects and seven Okanagan-area projects will receive a combined $37.39 million through the Strategic Priorities Fund. No Boundary-based recipient appears on the approved-project list. Source: Union of BC Municipalities.

Graphic: Boundary Sentinel

Five West Kootenay projects will share $18.74 million, while seven Okanagan-area projects will receive another $18.65 million.

No Boundary-based recipient appears on the approved list for a new round of federal infrastructure funding, while communities and regional organizations elsewhere in the Southern Interior will receive more than $37.39 million.

The Government of Canada announced $152,313,226 for 54 infrastructure and planning projects across British Columbia on July 30. The money is being distributed through the Strategic Priorities Fund under the Build Communities Strong Fund Community stream.

The Union of BC Municipalities’ approved-project list does not include Grand Forks, Greenwood, Midway or a project based in the rural Boundary area.

The list does not show which local governments applied unsuccessfully or which chose not to apply.

West Kootenay projects receive $18.74 million

Five projects in the West Kootenay will receive a combined $18,740,630.

Nelson received the largest regional award: $7 million for its Marine Forcemain Replacement project.

The wastewater pipe carries sewage to the Grohman Narrows treatment plant. Nelson reported four leaks were found and repaired during an 11-day response in October 2025. At that time, the city estimated that replacing the forcemain would cost $11.6 million, with design work expected in 2026 and construction targeted for 2027.

Trail will receive $4.53 million to twin the transmission watermain along Charles Lakes Drive.

The second watermain will create a backup connection between the city’s water source and distribution system. The City of Trail said the project is intended to reduce the risk of interrupted service to residents, businesses and facilities including Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital.

Kaslo was approved for $3,813,750 to upgrade its wastewater treatment plant, while Montrose will receive $2,433,600 to increase the capacity of its lower water reservoir.

Slocan will receive $963,280 to reconstruct the northern portion of Harold Street between Delany and Ward streets.

Okanagan-area projects receive $18.65 million

Seven Okanagan and Okanagan-Similkameen recipients will share $18,651,399.

Three large construction projects account for almost $17 million of that total.

Kelowna will receive $7 million for the Regional Commonwealth Gateway Project. The broader initiative includes a proposed connection between Commonwealth Road and Jim Bailey Road near the boundaries of Kelowna, Lake Country and Okanagan Indian Band lands.

Coldstream will receive $6,971,187 for a sanitary-sewer infill project expected to connect more than 110 properties that currently rely on septic systems.

The district said the project is intended to reduce nutrients entering Kalamalka Lake and allow development on residential properties where the lack of sewer service has previously limited construction.

Vernon was awarded $3 million for improvements along Kalamalka Lake Road between 14th Avenue and Highway 6, including a multi-use path connection toward East Hill.

The work is expected to improve the connection between East Hill and the Okanagan Rail Trail through changes to road geometry, crossings and multi-use-path infrastructure. Vernon said more detailed project and construction information would be released later in the fall.

Four additional grants will pay for planning, research and asset-management work:

The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen will receive $765,212 for utility infrastructure mapping and data integration.

The Regional District of Central Okanagan will receive $425,000 to update its Regional Growth Strategy. The existing strategy was adopted in 2014, and the regional district expects the replacement process to continue until 2028.

The Okanagan Basin Water Board will receive $390,000 to update the scientific information used in Okanagan water-use planning. Its application described a two-year project to modernize regional hydrology modelling and support future water-use plans.

West Kelowna will receive $100,000 to develop a level-of-service framework and asset-management plan.

The Okanagan-area total includes the Okanagan-Similkameen regional grant. Because that regional district covers both the Okanagan and Similkameen, the amount should not be described as exclusively Okanagan funding without that qualification.

Funding divided between construction and planning

Across British Columbia, 29 capital projects are receiving approximately $145.95 million, while 25 capacity-building projects will share about $6.37 million.

The Strategic Priorities Fund is an application-based program for local governments and other eligible recipients outside Metro Vancouver. It supports major infrastructure and planning projects considered too large, regional or innovative for one local government to finance alone.

UBCM says the current intake has committed all available funding and that no date has been established for the next application period.