Governments and organizations in Prince George and northern B.C. will now be able to apply for new funding to help address service needs that come with large-scale economic development.
Because of rapid economic growth, the $25-million Northern Healthy Communities Fund (NHCF) will be available to 22 local municipalities and 27 First Nations near the LNG Canada and Coastal GasLink projects, along with non-profit organizations that provide critical services to those communities.
"We are seeing immense opportunity and job growth in B.C.'s North, which is why we have already invested $150 million in infrastructure for communities and are investing a new $25 million through the Northern Healthy Communities Fund," said B.C.'s Municipal Affairs Minister Josie Osborne in a release this morning (Feb. 2).
"We know that growth can require additional services to meet community needs and, through this new fund, we are working with local governments and First Nations to ensure people have the supports they need, such as child care, social housing, health and mental health support services and help for small business recruitment.”
The Northern Healthy Communities Fund is a partnership between the province and Northern Development Initiative Trust (NDIT), who will administer the program on behalf of the province.
"The trust is pleased to partner with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs to administer the Northern Healthy Communities Fund. With immense economic growth comes population growth and the increased need for social services," said NDIT CEO Joel MacKay.
"I applaud the Province for recognizing this need and providing robust funding to meet it head on."
Eligible communities or organizations will have the option to apply for funding through two program streams:
Capacity Building
- Applicants will be eligible to receive up to $100,000 to a maximum of 90 per cent of the eligible project budget
- Projects that qualify for this funding include expanding hours for child care centres and hiring more employees for mental health services and supporting small business recruitment, retention and resiliency
Capital
- Applicants can receive up to $300,000 to a maximum of 80 per cent of the eligible project budget
- Examples of projects that qualify include renovating a child care facility or a building that provides mental health services or renovating a multi-unit housing building or upgrades to an Indigenous cultural space
Funds will be disbursed quarterly through a series of intakes over five years.
The initial intake of the NHCF is open until Feb. 26, 2021.
Applications received after the first intake date ends will be considered for future rounds of funding.
