The creation of a community foundation has been a dream come true. The Foundation was officially launched in April 2000 and now holds a capital pool of $500,000. This capital pool will continue to grow with each new gift, generating a perpetual source of income for annual grants to a wide range of charitable community interests and needs. In the spring of 2002 grants for 12 community projects totaling $19,772 were announced. In June 2002, seven scholarships totaling $2,690 were awarded to graduates of RSS. The Foundation receives administrative support from the Revelstoke Credit Union in partnership with the CFDC of Revelstoke.

Scholarship awarded to RSS graduate

In June of 2001, Geoff Wilson was selected to be the recipient of a $500 scholarship to attend post secondary schooling. Successful applicants for this scholarship are chosen on their concept of entering into small business and how they plan on achieving their goal. This scholarship is set up as a permanent endowment in the amount of $10,000 on deposit with the Revelstoke Community Foundation where income from the fund will generate an annual scholarship of $500.

Fibre Optics Network

Following the completion of a fibre optics network feasibility study in September 2001, City Council mandated a committee to pursue the opportunity of providing the community with access to broadband communications. A workshop was held in January 2002 to develop an action plan for implementation of a municipal fiber optics open network. The cell block in the vacated RCMP building has been reserved for housing the Access Terminal Point for connecting the network to long haul fibre running parallel to the CP mainline. Planning is underway for deployment of fibre optics into the community.

The project has been named RevNet.

Enterprise Facilitation Program

Enterprise Facilitation is designed to promote business opportunities by assisting businesses to build strong management skills. Michael MacLaughlin was the Enterprise Facilitator until April 2002. After completing 21 months of active client assistance the program achieved the following results:

• 90 contacts with individuals seeking assistance

• 73 contacts became clients

• 27 jobs were created or maintained

• 27 business improvements

• 14 business start-ups / expansions / retention

The program now operates on a half time basis with David Royce contracted with as the Enterprise Facilitator.

Self Employment (SE) Program

The corporation contracts with Human Resources Development Canada to deliver the SE program in Revelstoke. The program consists of entrepreneurial skills training, business advice and a grant which is dispersed bi-weekly. During the year the program achieved the following results:

• 68 contacts with potential clients

• 58 attendees to program orientation

• 36 business plans received

• 26 new client contracts approved

CED Intern Program

Western Diversification provided additional funding to continue the Community Economic Development Intern Program for a fourth year expiring in March 2002. This program provided work experience for a recent post secondary graduate. This past year funding was reduced to a six month position. During the period July to December, Jessica Tychowski was employed as the CED Intern to assist with implementing community economic development initiatives.

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