The Valemount Community Forest has inked a significant land purchase deal that will help to expand the forestry industry in the Robson Valley. With the help of Northern Development, Columbia Basin Trust and others, the Valemount Community Forest Company has purchased 240 acres of land at the former Carrier Sawmill site where it plans to build an industrial park and log sort yard. The deal means that smaller mill operators in the Robson Valley will be able to co-locate at the industrial park, which will minimize their costs and maximize their access to the fibre they need to manufacture wood products.
Under co-location, the small mills are able to acquire only the fibre they want in the species profile that meets their customer’s needs. Northern Development has approved a $250,000 grant through its Economic Diversification Infrastructure program to support the land purchase. Columbia Basin Trust has approved a further $200,000 grant to support the deal.
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As well, Northern Development has announced that it recently approved $17,360 in funding to help align the Village of Valemount’s Crystal Ridge sled ski facility as a market-ready tourist attraction. The world-class recreational facility offers a unique experience for riders to shuttle themselves up the mountain on sleds and take turns skiing or boarding all the way down. The facility is open to the public, supporting six semi-cleared runs, each run offering more than 2,200 vertical feet of powder, as well as a designated up-track for snowmobile travel.
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Northern Development also announced it has approved a $30,000 grant to the City of Dawson Creek in an effort to support renovations for the exhibition ground’s grandstand. Over the past few years, the grandstand located at the Dawson Creek Exhibition Grounds has fallen into a state of disrepair, deeming it unsafe for public use. The exhibition ground’s grandstand provides the best seats in the house for numerous annual events, such as the Dawson Creek Fall Fair, agricultural fairs and rodeos.
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Finally, the Trust has announced that it the Cariboo Regional District was recently approved for $30,000 in funding for the Cariboo Regional District’s Gold Rush Snowmobile Trail Improvement project. In an effort to create a multi-purpose recreation trail network and market-ready tourism experience for central and northern B.C., the Cariboo Regional District has begun connecting pre-existing trails throughout the Cariboo,
The Gold Rush trail will offer year-round adrenaline adventures for riders, hosting snowmobilers in the winter and off roaders in the spring, summer and fall. Future phases of the trail improvements are planned to connect the trails with local services in the Cariboo such as lodging, fuel stations and restaurants. By connecting with existing amenities, trail users will be able to plan exciting outdoor adventures while also helping to boost local economies in the region.
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