Prince George-Valemont MLA Shirley Bond and Prince George-Mackenzie MLA Mike Morris announced a long-term action plan for communities in rural B.C. on Friday.
The Building on our Rural Advantages: B.C.'s Rural Economic Development Strategy includes a three-pronged approach, which they say will help build, strengthen and diversify rural communities ensuring that all British Columbians have the opportunity for good-paying jobs and a higher quality of life in rural communities.
"We recognize the needs of the province," Bond said. "We have a responsibility to support rural B.C. When rural British Columbia does well, it benefits the entire province."
These investments are to support up to 26,000 direct and indirect jobs.
"The release of the rural economic development strategy today lays out a plan to support creation and economic development in rural B.C. and provides funding for specific initiatives. We want to ensure that rural B.C. is a place where families choose to live, work and raise their families," Bond said.
Other initiatives include
$40 million to expand and enhance high-speed internet in rural areas and an extension of the
$25 million Rural Dividend Fund to strengthen local economies.
The province is also making targeted investments that will benefit rural communities including more than $475,000 through the B.C. Dividend Fund that will support five projects in the Prince George area.
The projects include:
$100,000 to support the Tabor Mountain Recreation Society upgrades and rehabilitation of the Frost Lake Trail.
$100,000 to support Community Futures Development Corp. of Fraser Fort George to deliver a training and support program to help farmers access tools and resource through Small Business B.C's Export Navigator.
$100,000 to support the Valemount Learning Society to create a non-profit college.
$100,000 to support the village of Valemount to develop a digital tool to assess the capacity of the Valemount Community Forest.
$75,562 will go toward the district of Mackenzie for the development of four new trails following the perimeter of Little Mac Ski Hill.
More than $811,000 is also being invested in Prince George with the Canada B.C. Job Fund and the Targeted Initiative for older workers with five programs:
$130,972 for the Prince George Employment Services Society to deliver employment programs to older workers.
$248,111 will got towards the Prince George Employment Services Society to deliver the Essential Skills Training and the Job Readiness Program.
$85,609 for the Community Futures Development Corp. of Fraser Fort George to provide opportunities for Cariboo Business Entrepreneur Skills Training.
$190,655 for the YMCA of Northern B.C. to deliver Youth Works Program.
$156,000 to the College of New Caledonia to deliver the Reintegration Industry Readiness Training.
