Province distributes most recent Rural Dividend Money

The Province of British Columbia has divvied up close to nineteen million dollars this week as part of the fifth intake for the BC Rural Dividend with a portion of that money heading the way of a number of North West and Coastal communities.

The announcement and roll out of funding was introduced by Doug Donaldson, the Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resources and Rural Development who made note of the impact that the funding has for communities across the province.

“This funding supports the diverse needs of small communities throughout the province and the people who live in them, Our government is getting results for people in small cities and towns in every region, creating jobs and enhancing everyday services and amenities for families around the province.”

Mr. Donaldson is also the MLA for Stikine and had the opportunity to share a fair amount of good news with his own constituents with Thursday's roll out of funding.

Around the Northwest the financial distribution looks as follows:

Coastal BC/Haida Gwaii

Gitxaala First Nation (Kitkatla) -- $337,800
Kitasoo Indian Band (Klemtu) -- $500,000
Nuxalk Nation (Bella Coola)  -- $100,00
Skidegate Band Council -- $72,000

North Coast/Northwest

Terrace/Kitimat Region

Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine Area B -- $500,000
Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine Area C --  $175,900
Kitselas First Nation -- $97,200
Kitsumkalum First Nation  -- $54,720

Gitwinksihlkw (Nisga'a) -- $432,000
District of Stewart -- $80,000

Smithers/Bulkley Valley

Gitxsan Development Corporation (Hazelton) -- $472,894
District of Houston -- $100,000
Houston Link to Learning Society -- $65,283
Innovation  Central Society (Bulkley-Nechako) -- $93,888
Misty Rivers Community Arts Council -- $97,050
Witset First Nation (Smithers)  -- $92,700

Fort St. James

Nak'azdli Whut'en -- $452,416
Stuart Lake Nordic Society -- $71,656

Burns Lake

Corporation of the Village of Burns Lake -- $100,000
Cheslatta Carrier Nation (Burns Lake) -- $100,000
Yinka Dene Economic Development Limited Partnership (Burns Lake) -- $100,000
Wet'suwet'en First Nation (Burns Lake) -- $72,500 

   
Prince Rupert, Port Edward and area First Nations were not listed as part of this intake release.

The grants help fund projects that support economic development and diversification in rural communities throughout the province and encourages economic diversification through community capacity building, workforce development, community and economic development, and business sector development.

Through the project development stream, $673,124 were awarded 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.

Further background on the Rural Dividend program can be reviewed here, while notes related to Thursday's announcement are available here.

For more items of interest related to developments out of Victoria see our Legislature archive page here.

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