Under the BC Rural Dividend Program, the Government of British Columbia is providing $490,000 to the Ashcroft Indian Band for two projects, Doug Donaldson, Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development, announced today.

“The rural dividend is just one aspect of our rural development mandate committed to making rural communities and First Nations more resilient,” said Donaldson. “We prioritized project applications to support communities like the Ashcroft Indian Band that were extensively damaged by last summer’s Elephant Hill wildfire.”

The Ashcroft Indian Band Business and Community Recovery Centre is being awarded $100,000 to build a community training/healing centre. It will be used for meetings to discuss economic partnerships, training opportunities (such as emergency preparedness), and community recovery programs – all part of wildfire recovery efforts.

The Band is being awarded $390,070 to buy an industrial pivot sprinkler system that can be used for both fire suppression, and to support development of a business partnership for growing hay.

“We’re working closely with First Nations communities to understand their unique challenges and support them as they rebuild from the devastating wildfires,” said Scott Fraser, Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation. “These projects will address some of the social and economic needs facing the Ashcroft Indian Band.”

“The Ashcroft Band community is beyond thrilled to receive funding for our projects. We have had such a traumatic and trying year and these projects will symbolize our resilience and determination to rebuild better than ever,” said Chief Greg Blaine.

“These projects will bring our community back together and move forward from the trauma of the fires,” he added. “We are very appreciative of the support of the rural dividend program.”

During the fourth intake, applications for rural dividend funding from wildfire impacted areas were prioritized for review. These two projects are being awarded funding under the rural dividend’s special circumstances provisions, specifically designed to assist communities undergoing economic hardship.

As part of Budget 2018, the Government of British Columbia committed to extending the $25-million-per-year rural dividend to 2020-21.

Learn More:

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