Under the BC Rural Dividend, the Province is providing $60,000 in new project development grants to Cariboo North, MLA for Cariboo North Coralee Oakes announced today.

$10,000 is being awarded to the City of Quesnel to develop a North Cariboo trails inventory and master plan to assess current and future needs of urban and rural trails in the region. The Quesnel & District Chamber of Commerce will receive $10,000 to create a feasibility study to develop an eight-week, employable skills training program for community members.

The Quesnel Downtown Association receives $10,000 to develop a five-year plan for the Downtown Quesnel Strategic Enhancement and Attraction Project to coordinate business efforts and ideas.

The Fraser Basin Council (formerly the British Columbia Rural Network) is being awarded $10,000 to attract and retain young adults to B.C.’s rural communities, as part of Quesnel’s Professional Recruitment Strategy.

The Alex Fraser Park Society is getting $10,000 to develop a foundation planning document that is required to establish a five-year development strategy for the Alex Fraser Park.

The Xatsull General Partnership Ltd. is being awarded $10,000 to conduct a Fireface Feasibility Study on a novelty firewood product and complete a business plan in anticipation of partnering with SBC Firemaster, North America’s largest firewood supplier.

These are six of 77 successful project development grants. More than $756,000 is being awarded to eligible communities, First Nations and non-profit organizations under the three-year, $75-million BC Rural Dividend.

One hundred eligible project development applications were received from around the province during the second application intake.

The BC Rural Dividend is designed to help eligible rural communities diversify and strengthen their economies and contribute to their overall wellness and sustainability. The program will contribute to the strength and sustainability of small rural communities. It is a key commitment from the 2015 Union of British Columbia Municipalities convention and the Province’s Balanced Budget 2016.

Funding of $25 million per year, over three years, is available in four categories:

• community capacity building;
• workforce development;
• community and economic development; and
• business-sector development.

The BC Rural Dividend is one of the ways the B.C. government is taking action to strengthen rural communities. To support the needs of rural communities and grow local economies, the Province will be releasing a Rural Economic Development Strategy in the near future. The strategy will help rural communities leverage their strengths and build on the significant contributions they have made to B.C.’s economy, creating new economic opportunities and enriching the unique lifestyle advantages rural B.C. has to offer.

Quotes:

MLA for Cariboo North Coralee Oakes –

“The range of projects in our community receiving grants in the second intake of the Rural Dividend reflects the initiative and creative spirit of the people in the Cariboo region. These grants will help to train and retain a local workforce, support economic sustainability and provide a good quality of life for the people of Cariboo North.”

Minister of State for Rural Economic Development Donna Barnett –

“The BC Rural Dividend was developed to ensure that rural British Columbians can share in economic opportunities now and into the future. These investments will build capacity in rural communities and lay the foundation for future growth, economic certainty and opportunity for all British Columbians.”

Learn More:

Rural Dividend: www.gov.bc.ca/ruraldividend