The Province is providing over $677,000 in new grants to help six communities in the Fraser-Nicola region diversify and strengthen their economies, Fraser-Nicola MLA Jackie Tegart announced.

Families in the Nicola-Similkameen school district will benefit from improved transportation services, thanks to $170,292 in funding under the new provincial Student Transportation Fund.

Members of the Lower Nicola Indian Band will receive direct economic benefits from Teck’s Highland Valley Copper Operations thanks to two new agreements – one with the provincial government and one with the mining firm.

Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Todd Stone announced that a new, modern rest area will be built between Merritt and Kelowna on the Okanagan Connector, providing a safe, and convenient place for the commercial trucking industry and tourists to stop and rest along this stretch of highway.

Students at Nicola Valley Institute of Technology (NVIT) will benefit from $100,000 in funding toward the purchase of new industry-standard trades equipment, including portable welding booths that will enable students to prepare for jobs in the trades.

Despite normal flows for many streams and Level 1 drought conditions elsewhere within the Nicola region, low flows in the Coldwater River system are nearing Level 4, or “extremely dry,” drought conditions.

Seniors and persons with mobility issues in Merritt will benefit by a new HandyDART service in the community, thanks to funding set aside by the Province and the City of Merritt.

May 2016 marks 30 years since the opening of one of British Columbia’s largest infrastructure projects – the Coquihalla highway. This 324-kilometre project opened up the interior to economic development and improved access to the west coast of British Columbia.