The Province is providing $250,000 to the Kootenay Livestock Association over the next three years for projects administered under the Grassland and Rangeland Enhancement Program (GREP), Bill Bennett, MLA for Kootenay East, announced on behalf of Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Steve Thomson.

Canadian Rockies International Airport in Cranbrook will receive $60,000 in funding from the B.C. Air Access Program this year for apron safety upgrades.

The B.C. government is investing more than $600,000 in provincial tourism sector associations to support tourism marketing activities in the Kootenay Rockies, announced Shirley Bond, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Minister Responsible for Labour.

The East Kootenay Regional District will receive $1,000,000 in BikeBC funding this year for The Westside Legacy Trail, Segments 1-4, announced Kootenay East MLA Bill Bennett on behalf of Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Todd Stone.

Building on the economic benefits and jobs created by getting to yes on major projects and provincial investments in infrastructure, Kootenay East MLA Bill Bennett announced immediate investments and a long-term action plan outlined in B.C.’s rural economic development strategy that will create jobs and economic opportunities in the Kootenays.

Canadians will be better equipped for the well-paying middle-class jobs of today and tomorrow as a result of a $10-million investment in College of the Rockies for a new trades-training facility.

Up to 144 East Kootenay residents will be receiving the training they need for jobs in their communities thanks to the federal-provincial partnership under the Canada-B.C. Job Fund Agreement.

Vehicle access closures that took effect in early September in areas surrounding Iron, Big Sand and Little Sand creeks are being lifted to allow further study and more extensive community consultation.