Under the BC Rural Dividend, the Province is providing $20,000 in new grants to Agassiz and Boston Bar, MLA for Chilliwack-Hope Laurie Throness announced today.

$10,000 is being awarded to the Boston Bar-North Bend Enhancement Society to complete a feasibility study and engineering report on the restoration of the CN railway station. The station house, which was donated to the community in 1994, will eventually house a museum, art gallery and public washrooms.

Agassiz’s Catalyst Agri-Innovations Society will receive $10,000 to develop a formal plan to build a community scale anaerobic digester, with food waste depackaging plant, for use in co-operation with local farms.

These are two 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 Chilliwack-Hope Laurie Throness  –

 “The CN Railway is part of our Canadian heritage and a source of local pride. I’m pleased to see the Boston Bar-North Bend Enhancement Society receive support from the Rural Dividend Fund for its work restoring the railway station, so future generations can enjoy and learn from it.”

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