Under the BC Rural Dividend Program, the Government of British Columbia is providing $363,450 to the Southern Gulf Islands Community Resources Centre, the Capital Regional District and the Salt Spring Island Chamber of Commerce for four projects.

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.

These 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.

“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 Capital Regional District is being awarded $190,750 for two projects:

• $90,750 to establish a non-profit co-operative for Salt Spring Island businesses that will provide shared services, including a distribution hub and labour force. This project builds on a feasibility study funded in an earlier Rural Dividend intake.
• $100,000 to complete engineered trail designs, including elevation surveys, plan-profile drawings and cost estimates for new regional trail segments on North Pender, Galiano and Saturna islands.

The Salt Spring Island Chamber of Commerce is being awarded $80,000 to develop long-term strategic and marketing plans to increase tourism on Salt Spring Island during the off-season. The project will, among other things, identify community assets, resources, services and available accommodations.

The Southern Gulf Islands Community Resources Centre on Pender Island is being awarded $92,700 to expand an educational tourism pilot. The project will attract visitors to the southern gulf to engage and participate in location-based learning experiences.

“B.C.’s tourism industry creates opportunities for people to get out and enjoy outdoor activities close to home, while providing good paying jobs and business opportunities,” said Lisa Beare, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture. “We are investing in the sector’s continued growth to make sure people in communities around the province will see benefits from tourism throughout the year.”

As well, over $4.6 million in grants are being provided to 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.

Additionally, $673,124 were awarded through the project development stream to communities around the province to complete preliminary work to support future projects.

The Rural Dividend encourages economic diversification through community capacity building, workforce development, community and economic development, and business sector development.

The Government of British Columbia has committed to extending the $25-million-per-year Rural Dividend to 2021-22.

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

Learn More:

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