A slate of investments in regional projects has been unveiled by the Nechako-Kitamaat Development Fund Society.
The society's board of directors approved funding for 11 projects, as part of its mandate to make annual donations to economic development projects for the region influenced by Rio Tinto Alcan's Kemano project.
The projects include:
- Kitimat Marine Rescue Society: $50,000 to assist with the purchase of a new rescue vessel.
- Burns Lake and District Chamber of Commerce: $9,249 to assist with the development of a trails brochure.
- Grassy Plains Community Hall Association Society: $25,000 for upgrades to the community hall in Grassy Plains.
- Lakes District Film Appreciation Society: $28,920 for seating upgrades at the Beacon Theatre.
- Regional District of Bulkley Nechako: $4,425 to go toward brochures as part of the Connecting Producers and Consumers project.
- Regional District of Bulkley Nechako: $4,500 toward the Regional Tourism Marketing Initiative.
- District of Vanderhoof: $20,000 for washroom upgrades at Ferland Spray Park.
- Saik'uz First Nation: $35,714 to go toward a kitchen upgrade in the SFN Administration and Training Centre.
- District of Vanderhoof: $9,000 to purchase and install electronic community signs.
- Nechako Valley Exhibition Society: $28,000 for the building of a small animal barn.
- District of Vanderhoof: $30,000 toward upgrades at the Visitor Centre Building.
The society encourages applications from local governments and legally incorporated non-profit organizations for projects that create sustainable employment, diversify the economy, and improve the basic infrastructure needed for community stability, quality of life and growth.
Since inception, the society has approved more than $7.7 million for economic development and community stability projects across the investment area in the Ootsa Lake, Lakes District, Nechako River and Haisla regions. The group was established during the late 1990s by seed money from the provincial government and Alcan as part of an out-of-court settlement between those two parties.
The group is budgeted to allocate $500,000 in grants during the 2013-14 fiscal year.
