BC Rural Dividend funds over $8 million in projects
Press Release
October 7, 2016
The B.C. government is distributing over $8.16 million in new grants to help rural communities diversify and strengthen their economies Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Steve Thomson and Parliamentary Secretary Donna Barnett announced today.
In the first intake of the three-year $75 million BC Rural Dividend, funding is being awarded to 73 local governments, First Nations and not-for-profit organizations around the province for single and partnership projects.
A total of 118 single (up to $100,000) and partnership (up to $500,000) project applications were received in the first intake.
Successful projects range from supporting development of a value-added agricultural sector in Cranbrook, to a project in Williams Lake that supports youth and seniors’ entrepreneurs, and a bioenergy system for the Kwadacha Nation in remote Fort Ware.
Last month a total of $464,294 in project development grants were awarded to develop strong single applicant, or partnerships projects, for future intakes.
The second intake of the BC Rural Dividend is now open and will close at midnight Oct. 31, 2016. Application forms can be filled out online and are available at: www.gov.bc.ca/ruraldividend.
As part of a continuous improvement process, the program’s eligibility requirements were reviewed over the summer months. The updated BC Rural Dividend Program Guide is now available online and anyone wishing to apply to the second intake can review the changes at the BC Rural Dividend web site.
The Province also released its progress report which highlights actions taken since the 2014 rural development strategy was released. The report, Accelerating Success for British Columbia’s Rural Communities, also contains a map of all the recent successful proponents. The report is available online at: http://ow.ly/2bKl304Vk9H
Quotes:
Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Steve Thomson –
“The response to the first application intake for projects was overwhelming. The diversity of applications received reflects that the Rural Dividend is applicant driven. Communities have submitted applications that are best suited to the unique needs of their community.”
Parliamentary Secretary Donna Barnett –
“The second project intake window runs to Oct. 31, which will see more communities benefit. One of the benefits of the Rural Dividend is that communities can apply as often as they like.”
Quick Facts:
- The BC Rural Dividend is part of government’s multi-faceted response to assisting rural communities and complements existing initiatives supporting rural communities.
- The criteria for the BC Rural Dividend were conceived with input from the 13-member Rural Advisory Council, which was formed in March 2015.
Learn More:
Rural Dividend: www.gov.bc.ca/ruraldividend
Rural Advisory Council: http://ow.ly/NFhU301MfRv
A backgrounder follows.
Backgrounders
BC Rural Dividend – First intake project grant recipients
Coast
Ahousaht First Nation: $96,480
Village of Alert Bay: $239,580
Boston Bar: $60,130
Capital Regional District (Salt Spring): $72,080
Coast Salish Development Corporation: $420,810
Town of Gibsons: $25,613
Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw Nation: $407,700
Village of Harrison Hot Springs: $80,000
Hope & Area Transition Society: $46,236
Hupacasath First Nation: $79,100
Kitsumkalum Fish & Wildlife Department: $79,220
Leq’a:mel First Nation: $72,640
Malahat Nation: $78,784
Village of Masset: $448,901
Old Masset: $100,000
Pacheedaht: $100,000
City of Port Alberni: $74,100
District of Port Hardy: $100,000
City of Prince Rupert: $100,000
Village of Sayward: $100,000
Shxw’owhamel First Nation: $71,976
Skidegate Band Council: $100,000
Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations: $100,000
Yale First Nation: $99,990
North
District of Chetwynd: $48,000
Doig River First Nation: $85,000
District of Fort St. James: $22,500
Gitanyow Economic Development Corporation on behalf of the Gitanyow Band Council: $99,300
Gitxaala Nation: $63,240
Gitxsan Development Corporation: $381,330
Kwadacha Nation: $500,000
District of Mackenzie: $100,000
Nadleh Whut’en First Nation: $75,000
City of Terrace: $52,000
Tl’azt’en Nation Education: $99,197
Tsay Keh Dene Band: $90,000
Yekooche First Nation: $51,734
Cariboo
Barkerville Historic Town and Park: $100,000
Canim Lake: $80,000
Cariboo Regional District: $32,050
Lhtako Dene Nation: $92,380
Village of McBride: $100,000
City of Quesnel (with the Quesnel Downtown Association): $249,900
Northern Shuswap Tribal Council Society: $99,975
TI’etinqox Government: $100,000
City of Williams Lake: $64,062
Thompson-Okanagan
Adams Lake Indian Band: $71,600
Ashcroft Indian Band: $99,620
Bridge River Indian Band: $58,240
Village of Lumby: $68,329
Lower Nicola Indian Band: $239,568
Nicola Valley Community Theatre Society: $100,000
N’Quatqua First Nation: $100,000
Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen: $32,722
Osoyoos Indian Band: $100,000
District of Peachland: $40,000
Shackan Indian Band: $100,000
Columbia Shuswap Regional District: $32,000
Lower Similkameen Indian Band: $91,750
District of Summerland: $100,000
Ts’kw’aylaxw First Nation: $80,000
Kootenays
St. Mary’s Indian Band Community Enterprises: $100,000
Castlegar & District Community Services Society: $100,000
Community Connections Society of Southeast BC: $84,992
City of Cranbrook : $20,000
City of Grand Forks: $76,850
District of Invermere: $159,600
Village of Kaslo: $69,118
Kootenay Employment Services Society: $287,659
Village of Midway: $11,858
Village of New Denver: $21,608
City of Revelstoke: $100,000
City of Trail: $79,759
Total: $8,156,381
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