Province spreads grant money around Northwest for range of projects and studies

Three governments or agencies on the North and Central Coast were awarded 10,000 dollars each this week, part of a roll out of BC Rural Dividend Grants across the province.

On the North Coast the two recipients were the Lax Kw'alaams Business Development group and the Metlakatla Development Corporation.

Lax Kw'alaams will be putting their 10,000 dollars towards the completion of a feasibility plan and work on a study of the Lax Kw'alaams Coast Trail which connects to the Metlakatla Wilderness Trail.

From their $10,000 in grant money, the Metlakatla Development Corporation plans to develop a business case for cannabis production and to become a licensed provider.

The Central Coast Regional District rounds the coastal funding, with their 10,000 dollar award to be used to explore the benefits of improved digital connectivity, with a focus on emergency preparedness.

As part of this information release on the funding, North Coast MLA Jennifer Rice took note of the assistance the grants will deliver to communities.

“This funding will help bolster the economies in these remote communities and improve safety for citizens when it comes to emergency preparedness,”

The NDP government also spread close to 70,000 dollars in funding to communities in Northwest British Columbia, with announcements for projects along the Highway 16 and 37 corridors.

Included on the list are:

Atlin --  $8,600 to explore options and details for upgrades to the historic Atlin Courthouse, which houses the local library and a co-operative for local artists.

Smithers/Telkwa -- $10,000 to develop detailed engineering drawings for the first phase of the Smithers to Telkwa Multi-Use Trail.

Dease River Development Corporation at Good Hope Lake  --  $10,000 to create a business plan for the first year of operations for the Dease River First Nation’s Woodland Forest Licence.

District of Houston --  $10,000 to develop a downtown beautification plan based on the district’s “natural amazing” brand.

City of Terrace --  $10,000 to complete a feasibility assessment of the Skeena River Walk, the third and final section of the Grand Trunk Pathway that links the downtown area to the Kitsumkalum River.

Terrace -- My Recreational Mountain Co-operative has been awarded $5,892 to promote safe back country adventures at the Shames Mountain Ski Area by installing signs and a beacon check station at a spot where back country users leave the inbounds area.

Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine (Area E and Area C) -- $10,000 to develop a business case for upgrading the Thornhill Community Centre so it can accommodate more recreational and community programs.

You can review more background on that announcement here.

Prince Rupert, Port Edward and Haida Gwaii did not make the list for Rural dividend distribution for this round of funding opportunities.


More items of note from the Legislature can be found on our archive pages below:

North Coast constituency

Skeena and Stikine constituencies


A larger overview of the political scene in the provincial capital is available through our companion blog D'Arcy McGee.

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