Under the BC Rural Dividend, the Province is providing $71,600 to the Adams Lake Indian Band, MLA for Kamloops-South Thompson Todd Stone announced today.

Adams Lake Indian Band will use the grant to grow traditional plants and seedlings in an existing greenhouse, train band members to work in the greenhouse and develop an ongoing business growing traditional plants.

The funding is part of the $8.1 million being provided to 73 local governments, First Nations and not-for-profit organizations throughout the province.

The BC Rural Dividend program provides grants of up to $100,000 each for single applicants, and up to $500,000 for partnerships, to promote economic diversity while contributing to a community’s overall liveability and sustainability.

Funding is available in four categories: community capacity building, workforce development, community and economic development, and business sector development.

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. The second intake of the BC Rural Dividend runs until Oct. 31. More details are available online at: www.gov.bc.ca/ruraldividend

Quotes:

Kamloops-South Thompson MLA Todd Stone –

“The Adams Lake Indian Band deserves a great deal of credit for using the greenhouse to create new economic opportunities. By nurturing traditional plant life, the Band is preserving its cultural heritage and building a future at the same time.”

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 until 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 developed 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