Under the BC Rural Dividend Program, the Government of British Columbia is providing $603,162 to seven projects in the Thompson Nicola regions, Doug Donaldson, Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development, announced today.

“Government is following through on its commitment to help rural communities navigate changes that have impacted local economies, by supporting local business development and creating new partnerships to promote shared prosperity,” Donaldson said. “These rural dividend grants are bringing positive change to rural communities throughout B.C.”

The funding is part of nearly $8 million in 58 project grants being awarded to eligible local governments, First Nations and not-for-profit organizations through the BC Rural Dividend Program. Rural dividend grants help fund projects that that will stabilize rural economies. Grants can be up to $100,000 each, or up to $500,000 each for partnership projects.

• The Village of Clinton is being awarded $100,000 to build two trails (Urban Loop Trail along 47 Mile Creek, and XC Multi Trail along the northwest side of Clinton) as part of the Clinton Community Trails Plan, developed with a grant from the third intake of the rural dividend.
• The Lower Nicola Indian Band is being awarded $100,000 to create an energy road map that will focus on community-based renewable energy projects, and includes a participation strategy for utility-scale energy projects throughout the territory.
• The Lower North Thompson Community Forest Society (LNTCFS) is being awarded $100,000 to develop a small firewood processing facility in Barriere that uses waste material from current milling operations.
• N'Quatqua First Nation is being awarded $100,000 to expand the N'Quatqua Fish Hatchery. The funds will be used to expand capacity, hire a fishery technician, and implement projects identified in the N'Quatqua’s economic development strategy.
• The Shackan Indian Band is being awarded $73,812 to develop a tourism strategy to identify investments needed, including to infrastructure, training and business development, to assess the potential of developing two remote reserves as tourist destinations.
• Spayum Developments Ltd. is being awarded $79,350 to create a master development plan to guide the administration and development of the Gateway 286 lands in Merritt. The master plan will include technical site assessments, a conceptual land-use plan and detailed servicing plans.
• The Simpcw First Nation is being awarded $50,000 to construct an additional 8 kilometres of world-class climbing, hiking, running and mountain bike trails, as part of phase two of the Simpcw’ulcw Signature Destination Trail Initiative.

Earlier this month, nearly $5 million was granted to fund 30 projects in wildfire-impacted areas and two communities that were affected by the shutdown of local mills.

The rural dividend encourages economic diversification, innovation, sustainability and collaboration, and recognizes the diverse needs of individual communities.

As part of Budget 2018, the Government of British Columbia committed to extending the $25-million-per-year rural dividend to 2020-21. The rural dividend is one aspect of government’s rural development mandate, which is committed to making rural communities more resilient.

Learn More:

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