Under the BC Rural Dividend, the Province is providing $6,350 in a new grant to the Pemberton Valley, MLA for West Vancouver-Sea to Sky Jordan Sturdy announced today.

The Stewardship Pemberton Society is being awarded $6,350 towards obtaining the engineered drawings required to connect One Mile Lake Nature Centre to municipal services (electricity, water and sewer).

This is one 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 West Vancouver-Sea to Sky Jordan Sturdy –

“I well know the many years of dedication and hard work that have gone into building the One Mile Lake Nature Centre into what it is today. The Rural Dividend Project development grant will assist the Pemberton Stewardship Society in their efforts to take the next steps in providing services to the centre and supporting the society in their mandate of sustainability of the natural environment through education, cooperation and community involvement.”

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