Under the BC Rural Dividend Program, the Government of British Columbia is providing nearly $100,000 to Kootenay Employment Services Society for a project to support employment, business and community in the Creston area.

“By helping Kootenay Employment Services mobilize local capital and launch regional community investment co-ops, this grant will go a long way to boost local communities,” said Michelle Mungall, MLA for Nelson-Creston.

Almost $19 million in 153 single applicant and partnership project grants are being awarded to eligible local governments, First Nations and not-for-profit organizations through the Rural Dividend Program.

The Kootenay Employment Services Society will use its grant to implement business plans and launch two regional-scale community investment co-ops to support the Kootenay Boundary and Shuswap regions.

“This funding supports the diverse needs of small towns throughout the province and the people who live in them,” said Doug Donaldson, Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development. “Our government is getting results for people in every region, creating jobs and enhancing everyday services and amenities for families around the province.”

The Rural Dividend is one aspect of government’s rural development mandate, which commits to making rural communities more resilient.

Quick Facts:

• Over $4.6 million in grants are being provided through the program’s special circumstances stream to support 23 applicants responding to economic challenges resulting from the loss of a main employer or the impacts of a natural disaster.
• $673,124 were awarded through the project development stream to communities around the province to complete preliminary work to support future projects.
• The Government of British Columbia has committed to extending the $25-million-per-year rural dividend to 2021-22.
• The Rural Dividend encourages economic diversification through community capacity building, workforce development, community and economic development, and business sector development.
• Grants help fund projects that support economic development and diversification in rural communities throughout the province. Grants can be up to $100,000 for a single applicant project or up to $500,000 for partnership projects.

Learn More:

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

Kootenay Employment Services Society: https://kes.bc.ca/CMS2/