The Lakes District Family Enhancement Society is getting $99,947 to implement the Community Food Hub Transition project under the special circumstances provision of the BC Rural Dividend.

“We’re aware that some rural communities are facing difficulties in the aftermath of wildfire season and other challenges in the forest industry,” said Doug Donaldson, Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development. “We’ve prioritized certain project applications to help First Nations and rural communities ensure they remain healthy and economically viable places to live and raise families.”

The Community Food Hub Transition project will support the planning, infrastructure design and staff recruitment required to transform the Lakes District Food Bank into a community food hub.

“The Lakes District Family Enhancement Society is very excited to be working on poverty reduction and food security issues in the Lakes District region,” said Scott Zayac, executive director of the society. “In partnership with other organizations and communities, this funding will increase programming options that will help develop the capacity of children and families to improve their health and socio-economic outcomes and build more resilient communities.”

In Budget 2018, the Government of British Columbia committed to extending the $25-million per year Rural Dividend to 2020-21.

So far in 2018-19, including this funding, $3,801,294 have been awarded under special circumstances throughout the province. Final decisions on project applications from the fifth intake for single applicants (up to $100,000) and partnerships (up to $500,000) will be announced next month.

This month, the Province also provided $673,124 in project development grants to 68 local governments, First Nations and not-for-profit organizations around B.C.

The Rural Dividend is one aspect of government’s rural development mandate, which is committed to supporting rural communities to reinvigorate and diversify their local economies.

Learn More:

Village of Burns Lake: www.office.burnslake.ca/

Lakes District Family Enhancement Society: www.ldfes.com

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