The Community Radio Fund of Canada (CRFC) announced its first group of funding recipients through two programs resulting in 20 Community/Campus Broadcasters receiving $160,000 across Canada. In the Kootenays both Rossland Radio and Salmo Radio had successful applications under two separate programs.

The CRFC is a not-for-profit funding organization geared toward the development and sustainability of local community radio broadcasting in Canada. Its goal is to provide the sector with the resources needed to continue providing local programming and community access, as well as for the development and enrichment of this vital component of the Canadian broadcasting system.

Rossland Radio Cooperative will be launching a Youth Internship Program this summer called “Be The Voice” with $9,960 received from the fund along with matching funds from the Columbia Basin Trust Youth Initiative. Under the Radio Talent Development Program, CFAD 92.1 FM in Salmo BC received $4,700 for the program called “Salmo Community Radio Local News/Public Affairs Forum”

“Be The Voice is a dynamic program for Rossland Radio which will employ up to 9 youth [16-30 years old] with internships from July to November this year. It was pretty exciting to be successful with this first round of funding from the Community Radio Fund of Canada and the excitement level hit 11 once we learned of the matching funds from the CBT Youth Initiative. Their contribution really added value to the program and allow the youth to receive additional hours in their internship and get to work with some great new equipment, ” says Rossland Radio director Michelle d’Entremont.