PRINCE GEORGE - Today, the Honourable Jay Hill, Member of Parliament for Prince George - Peace River and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, on behalf of the Honourable Lynne Yelich, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification, along with Bruce Sutherland, Chair of Northern Development Initiative Trust, announced funding of $10 million for 23 projects in communities across Northern British Columbia through the Community Adjustment Fund (CAF).
"Through our Government's support, these 23 community initiatives will create immediate jobs and a build a stronger Northern British Columbia," said Minister Hill.
The Government of Canada, through the Community Adjustment Fund, provided $10-million to the Northern Development Initiative Trust (NDIT) to support the most affected communities in Northern B.C., helping to reduce the short-term impacts of the economic downturn.
With the initial $10 million investment, NDIT has supported 23 projects ranging from tourism infrastructure improvements to the expansion of a mobile poultry processor. All of these projects will create jobs in the immediate future, ensuring that British Columbians are able to return to work and provide economic stability to their community and families.
In addition, Minister Hill also announced that the Federal Government would provide an additional $20 million in CAF funding to NDIT to support additional projects in Northern British Columbian communities.
"I'm also pleased to announce our Government's additional contribution of $20 million to the Northern Development Initiative Trust," said Minister Hill. "Together, we're building a stronger foundation for future growth and prosperity."
"There was a huge demand for the Community Adjustment Fund from central and northern BC. I am thrilled that our staff and Board were able make decisions quickly and confirm funding contracts so that many people are now working and completing projects that are long term investments in the diversification of our economy," said Bruce Sutherland, Chair, Northern Development Initiative Trust. "This government has been innovative and responsive in partnering with Northern Development to make regional decisions with local due diligence. It has been a great partnership opportunity, creating immediate results here in the North."
It is anticipated that the additional $20 million will be allocated to job creating projects in the coming weeks.
Canada's Economic Action Plan will provide a total of $1 billion over two years to communities throughout Canada, including $306 million across Western Canada under the Community Adjustment Fund (CAF). The fund will help reduce the short-term impacts of restructuring in communities across Canada heavily reliant on resource-based industries, including forestry, mining, agriculture, and fisheries, as well as communities that depend on the manufacturing sector.
Northern Development Initiative Trust is an independent regional economic development corporation focused on stimulating economic growth and job creation in central and northern British Columbia.
City of Prince George will receive $444,000 to expand upon an existing local trail system by designing and building new trails, engineering support structures and facilities and providing new trail amenities. This will include felling of hazard trees, building and placement of log benches, fuel management work, invasive plant removal, tree chipping, trail surfacing works and forest regeneration which overall will create up to 18 jobs.
Village of McBride will receive $347,500 to develop tourism infrastructure, including an info kiosk, washrooms, picnic area and parking lot. The info kiosk will promote local and regional trails, as well as local businesses and accommodations with a special focus on visitors. The design of the visitors stop will include landscaped / hardscaped area for vehicles, benches, picnic tables, and the aforementioned kiosk and washrooms.
City of Terrace will receive $600,000 to revitalize the George Little Park in downtown Terrace. This will include the construction of the Spirit Square band shell, a plaza/town square with landscaping, park pathways including lighting, landscaping and connecting paths, the preparation and installation of a Seniors Fitness Park site, detailed design for Market street and its reconstruction to Emerson street and a children's play area and linkage to ""Upper Little"" park. These improvements will not only benefit local residents but will add to the allure of Terrace as a tourist destination.
District of Stewart will receive $520,000 to hire 12 new employees over the next 18 months to undertake a variety of trail and campsite improvement activities such as: brushing of public and crown lands within the municipal boundaries for bear awareness programs; rehabilitation and creation of new campsites at the Rainey Creek Municipal Campground; creation of a new nature trail from the Campground to the ski hill; development of the new Spirit Square in the downtown core; construction of new picnic tables, benches, flower boxes, and covered picnic shelters; construction of new tourist information kiosks in the downtown core and landscaping of public lawns in the downtown core. These activities will provide the area with much needed tourist facilities, and at the same time create immediate employment for local residents.
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