Building on the economic benefits and jobs created by getting to yes on major projects and provincial investments in infrastructure, Premier Christy Clark and Minister of State for Rural Economic Development Donna Barnett released the Province’s rural economic development strategy, detailing immediate investments and a long-term action plan to support thriving rural communities.

Under the BC Rural Dividend, the Province is providing $60,000 in new grants to the Fraser Nicola region.

As of Jan. 16, 2017, British Columbians looking to purchase their first home can apply to the B.C. Home Owner Mortgage and Equity Partnership program, which helps first-time homebuyers create secure and stable futures for their families through home ownership.

Canadians will be better equipped for the well-paying middle-class jobs of today and tomorrow as a result of a federal-provincial investment of $8.9 million in a new Centre of Excellence in Sustainability at the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology (NVIT).

The world is changing and B.C. students need to be ready to adapt to the careers of tomorrow. Students in the Nicola-Similkameen School District will be prepared thanks to $22,500 in provincial funding awarded to the district, helping to connect kids with opportunities in skilled trades and tech training. 

The B.C. government has distributed $30,478 in compensation for municipal property taxes to the City of Merritt.

Adult learners in Merritt will benefit from one-time targeted funding of $24,000 for the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology to support literacy programs.

The B.C. government is funding 10 extreme weather shelter spaces in Merritt this winter to help people whose health and safety may be threatened by cold, wet weather.