New Facility Partnership Proposal
North Valley Gymnastics has prepared a partnership proposal for new gymnastics center to be built in the Vernon area. The proposal presents a business plan and capital investment model to combine Regional Land, private investment, and provincial grants to make up 50% of the project budget. The remaining 50% will come from the newly announced Federal Recreational Infrastructure program.
We cannot make this happen without your help. It is critical that you make your voice heard to let our elected officials know how important this project is to our community.
Above all else, show respect to our elected officials. They work very hard on our behalf to make Vernon a great place to live. They deserve our thanks and respect.
Links to contact information may be found below. Also sample emails are available for you to personalize and send.
Sunday April 12 - In the News
Morning Star covers our project.
Thursday April 9 - GVAC Supports Proposal
Parks and Recreation Director Al McNiven presented his report to the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee. After some discussion the GVAC voted unanimously in favor of his recommendation and made the following motions. The Regional District of North Okanagan will vote on these motions on May 6.
- The Regional District of North Okanagan provide a letter of support to the North Valley Gymnastics Society, endorsing their request for grant funding to create a community owned athletic facility in the North Okanagan area; and further,
- That the Regional District of North Okanagan agree to provide land to the North Valley Gymnastics Society for the construction of a community owned athletic facility in the form of a serviced lot, and that such land is the property located at Lot l, Section 25, Twp 9, KAP 52756, the land behind the Regional District office building; and further,
- That the Regional District enter into a financing agreement with the North Valley Gymnastics Society which clearly outlines the financial commitment and debt servicing arrangements for the proposed facility, such that the Regional District of North Okanagan would borrow up to $560,000 and the North Valley Gymnastics Society will make payments to the Regional District of North Okanagan to service this amount of debt; and further,
- That if the grant requests are successful, the Regional District ofNorth Okanagan
enter into a ManagemenlOperatior/Construction agreement with the North
Valley Gymnastics Society for the new facility.
Thursday March 12 - RDNO Greater Vernon Advisory Committee
NVGS is on the agenda to present the partnership proposal and ask for RDNO to support the project. We are asking Regional District for three things:
- A letter of support
- A building site
- Assistance to obtain financing. In brief, we are asking RDNO to borrow up to $600,000 against the new building and we make the payments. The actual amount will vary depending how much the province will contribute.
UPDATE
We met with the Advisory Council members and went over the partnership proposal. The members support the project and have referred it to staff for a recommendation. The members, and Councelor Mary-Jo O'Keefe in particular, recognize how important it is that this be handled quickly. They further moved that a special meeting be held to review the staff recommendation as soon as it is available.
We owe our thanks to the members of the GVAC for taking this initiative on behalf of our community.
Monday March 9 - Vernon City Council
We are asking that City Council provide a letter of support for the project. Without the City behind us, it will be very difficult to qualify for provincial and federal grants. We have asked that this item be placed on the March 9 agenda, and that Council vote to provide a letter of support.
UPDATE
Mayor Lippert and Council voted unanimously to provide a letter of support for the North Valley Athletic Center project!! Thank you!
Tom Christensen, MLA Okanagan - Vernon
We are seeking $650,000 in grants from the provincial government. We would like to thank Mr. Christensen for his support thus far and encourage him to continue to help locate sources of Provincial funding.
How to Help
- As of April 14, 2009, Mr. Christensen may no longer act on behalf of our region. We thank him for his support of this project.
Colin Mayes, MP Okanagan - Shushwap
We will be applying for $1,000,000 Recreational Infrastructure Grant (RInc) when that program becomes available. Mr. Mayes endorsement of the project will lend credibility to the application. Mr. Mayes is aware and supportive of the project. It would help him to hear from his constituency to understand how much this means to the community.
How to Help
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