PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. – Northern Development announced today that it has approved funding for six projects totalling $919,643 throughout central and northern B.C. At their July 22 meeting, the Trust’s board of directors approved the following through the Economic Diversification Infrastructure program:
$15,000 was approved for the District of Mackenzie to develop a 200-metre switchback multi-use trail from the current campground parking lot of the Mackenzie Community Campsite to Morfee Lake Public Beach. This will include the purchase of trail and campground signage and the installation of a small map kiosk to help campers explore the area further.
$75,000 was approved for the Lytton First Nation to establish a food processing hub in Lytton. This hub will provide a viable food processing and preserving operation for local food and products, which will support growth and innovation in the community’s agriculture and agri-food sectors.
$166,328 was approved for the Valemount Learning Society to purchase a growing container to cultivate vegetables with the ability to supply the community, including local and neighbouring restaurants and shops, with fresh greens year-round. This project has potential for job creation, both in operating the container as well as in sales and delivery. It will also allow the Valemount Learning Society to provide teaching opportunities to the community on how to grow vegetables hydroponically.
$196,704 was approved for the Daylu Dena Council for the construction of an RV park for their community. The RV park will serve as a long-term asset for the Daylu Dena community and will bring visitors into the area to help stimulate the local economy. Situated along the Alaska Highway, the RV park will be a comfortable and picturesque camping space for the many tourists who make that drive each year.
$216,611 was approved for the Vanderhoof MenShed Society to assist in the purchase of the building currently being leased by the society. A MenShed is a place and group that benefits the physical and mental health of older men in a community. Socializing and work activity by individuals and the group provide huge benefits to those who attend.
$250,000 was approved for the Tumbler Ridge Days Society to construct a new fairground. A permanent fairground location will greatly assist the Society in hosting the Grizfest Music Festival, along with many other events. In the past, the Society has had to create a temporary fairground every year and this has become cost prohibitive. This project will include the construction of a covered stage, covered gazebo area, additional fencing, the purchase of sea cans, fire pits, tables and chairs, etc. and other amenities.
Quotes:
Joel McKay, CEO, Northern Development Initiative Trust
“The Trust is very pleased to be able to provide grants to so many deserving recipients, especially during these uncertain economic times. Each project is focussed on keeping communities stable, whether through food security, education, community support or tourism. It is encouraging to see so many community organizations working to continue to move forward and grow the economy.”
Riette Kenkel, Executive Director, Valemount Learning Centre
“The Valemount Learning Centre is very excited to finally bring this project to fruition. We are so grateful for NDIT’s support and we look forward to addressing local food security concerns by supplying Valemount and the surrounding communities with fresh produce all year long, as well as offering educational and employment opportunities in food production.”
Chief Janet Webster, Lytton First Nation
“The vision for the Lytton First Nation Food Hub is to support local food producers and processors by providing key infrastructure and equipment to encourage capitalization of regional assets and the unique aspects of the local food and agriculture economy. This initiative will also support local food security on a foundation of traditional knowledge that will be passed from Nlaka’pamux knowledge keepers to our youth to promote wholistic health and wellness with ties to the land.”
Cannaan Khoza, Executive Director, Daylu Dena Council
“Daylu Dena Council is happy to receive funding for the RV Park. Lower Post RV Park will be a place where people will come to make some memories, come spend time with Mother Nature, discover pathways into nature, rediscover the joy of camping , and register as our guest ….leave as our friend.”
Terry Cosgrove, Executive Director, Tumbler Ridge Days Society
“TR Days Society is so excited to be awarded the Economic Diversification Infrastructure Grant. This grant is so important to the Society because it has been a dream of ours for so many years to have a permanent location to hold not only Grizfest, but all the other events we have planned. The Fall Fair, the Blunden’s Halloween Haunt and golf cart drive-in movies are just some of the new events residents can look forward to.”
Media Contact
Holly Plato
Director, Communications and Marketing
Northern Development Initiative Trust
hollyp@northerndevelopment.bc.ca
